Dorothy E. Owens Soles, 95, of Youngstown, Ohio, and formerly of the Grampian area, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 at Austinwoods Nursing Home.
She was born Aug. 5, 1918 in Stronach, a daughter of the late G. Paul and Lydia (Spencer) Curry. She was raised by her mother and step-father, Jerome Galio.
She was a graduate of the Curwensville High School in the class of 1936. She then graduated in 1942 from the Clearfield Hospital, School of Nursing.
After that she and her husband, Alfred, relocated to San Diego, Calif. in 1943, where she was employed at Mercy Hospital. She was also involved with the American Red Cross blood donor center. They returned to the Youngstown area, where she was employed at the Youngstown Hospital Association Northside Unit, as the head nurse in the maternity ward.
She was also employed as a nurse on a part-time basis with Republic Steel Corp. She then transferred to the South Side Unit of Y.H.A., where she worked for 24 years, retiring in 1981 as an assistant head nurse.
She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women and honored as the most valiant woman of the church. She was a member of the Mar-Sing Sunday School Class, the Naomi Circle and supervised the church nursery for 18 years.
She was also a member of the Youngstown St. David’s Welsh Society, where she was named Welsh Woman of the Year in 2006. She was a social member of St. George Croatian Home; a member of the Order of Amaranth-Court No. 22; a life member of Miriam Chapter No. 278 of the Order of Eastern Star; a past president of the Clotilda Club; a member of the steering committee of the retired nurses interest group; a charter member of the Volney Rogers P.T.A.; a member of the Philosophical Educational Organization; and a past president of the Westside Band Boosters.
She was active with the Boy Scouts of America. She loved to entertain and be around people, especially children. She enjoyed reading, flower gardening and listening to music.
Her first husband, Alfred W. Owens, whom she married April 24, 1942, died May 2, 1969. Her second husband, Melvin T. Soles, whom she married April 7, 1973, died May 19, 1992.
She is survived by her son, Dr. Alfred W. (Dawn) Owens II of Austintown; her sisters, Annie Lumadue of Clearfield and Erma Carson of Williamsport; her granddaughter, Elisa Owens of Austintown and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc. of Curwensville with the Rev. Dr. Robert S. Ludrowsky officiating. Burial will be in the Lumber City Cemetery.
Family and friends will be received from 12 p.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home.
There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Jan. 4, at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Chapel of the Friendly Bells, in Youngstown.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Scholarship Fund of Trinity United Methodist Church, 30 W. Front St., Youngstown., OH 44503 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chidboyfuneralhome.com.
The Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc. of Curwensville is in charge of the arrangements.