Doris Estelle Raforth

Doris Estelle Raforth, a longtime resident of San Antonio, died March 12, 2002 in Yakima, WA at the age of 83. She was born September 20, 1918 in Carthage, MO to Elijah and Bessie Holforty Etcheson. On May 25, 1941, she married Chief Warrant Officer M.F. "Ray" Raforth in Champaign, Il. Early in her career, Doris served as executive director for the Girl Scout Council in Ohio and was appointed commissioner for the American Girl Scouts in Germany. Doris worked for 19 years as executive assistant to the USAF Command Chaplain Training Headquarters at Randolph AFB, TX. She was the first woman to be appointed assistant director and coordinator for USAF Spiritual Life conferences. Doris was the Federal Women's Program Coordinator for Air Training Command. During her career, she received many awards including the 1975 Outstanding Woman of the Year award in administration at Randolph AFB. Doris was an active member of the Business and Professional Women's Club where she held several leadership positions at local, state and national levels. She was named Outstanding District Director in 1976 and "Miss Victory" the same year for being BPW's most successful membership recruiter. Active in civic affairs, Doris was a member of the San Antonio Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women, the National and Texas Women's Political Caucus and the Federally Employed Women's Association. She served on the San Antonio Council of Presidents, the Literacy Council, the Personnel Management Association, and the Bell Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians. She was an officer in both Candlelight and Taj Mahal Toastmistresses and was a founder, president and secretary of the Royal Ridge Community Association. As an Air Force wife, Doris was a seasoned traveler and was proud of having visited every state in the U.S. She and her family lived overseas where she began collecting Hummel figures and plates from around the world. She enjoyed gardening, reading and crafts. Doris was an Elder of the Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. Her warmth, enthusiasm, generosity, gentle humor and integrity will be missed by all. She is survived by a son and his wife, Robert and Donna and two grandchildren, Emily and Ethan, all of Yakima, WA; a daughter, Karen of Boulder, CO; and a sister, Lois Rogers of Cottage Grove, WI. Preceding her in death were her husband, parents, only brother, A. Thomas Etcheson, and one sister, Vivian Smith. Services will be held Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 1:00 P.M. at the Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway with the Rev. Don Ofsdahl presiding. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to BPW/Texas Foundation, 803 Forest Ridge No. 207, Bedford, TX 76022. Sunset Funeral Home.