RIDGLEY FITCH, Dorothy

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Saturday, October 24, 2009 Dorothy Vogel Ridgley Fitch was born Oct. 31, 1914, to mother, Mary C. McFarland and father, Walter G. Vogel. She had two brothers, Leroy (passed) and Walter Jr.; and sisters, Margaret Hoffman, and Mildred Anderson (passed). Dorothy married Paul L. Ridgley Dec. 25, 1934. They were blessed with a daughter, Joye, and son-in-law Willie White; grandchildren and their spouses, Brenda and Ronnie Hasler, Christine and Lesley (passed) Evans, Gail Hoffman, Debbie and Mike Eastman, and Will White; great-grandchildren; Jennifer and Robert Garcia, Natalie and Chad Lewis, Tiffanie and Manuel Rios, Delbert and Lori Evans, Justin Evans, Jessica Hoffman, Zachary and Matthew Eastman and Michael Clowser, great-great-grandsons; Issac Garcia, Dominic Rios, and Aiden Lewis. Dorothy and Paul helped start Grace Lutheran Church in Needles, Calif. She played the organ, taught the tiny tikes in Sunday school and taught vacation Bible School. During World War II, Paul and Dot opened their home to the service men stationed in Needles. Dorothy and Paul moved to Blythe, Calif., where they owned “Paul and Dots Donut Shop.” Later, they added a small restaurant from 1956 to 1958. They moved to Denver, Colo., then to Lake Havasu City in 1964 when Havasu City was just starting. Dorothy began driving in 1969. She became a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant in 1974. She was honored by Mary Kay herself for her sales. Dorothy and Paul were married almost 50 years. Paul passed March 1984. She married Roger Fitch, of Lake Havasu City, April 3, 1993. They met at a singles group at the Domes Church. Dorothy moved to Blythe when Roger passed away in 2001. She lived across from the post office until 2009. She lived at Blythe Nursing Care Center until she passed Sept 2, 2009. Dorothy loved the Lord — she didn’t want to miss church. We all remember the holidays, she loved to bake — pies cookies, cobblers, and she shared with family and friends. She was a generous loving person. Dorothy always kidded about being from Kansas; her boots were gold instead of red like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. We’ll miss you, Mom. A memorial service will be held Oct. 31 at Zion Lutheran Church at 11 a.m.