Dorothy Peterson

Dorothy Larine Peterson (nee Sanchez), beloved mother, grandma and great grammy, passed away in her sleep on Monday, May 28th at her residence in Frederick, Maryland she was 84 years old. She was born on October 19, 1933 in Pearsall, Texas to Senon and Elfrieda (Stehle) Sanchez. The family eventually settled on the outskirts of Boerne, Texas where she lived until her marriage. Dorothy graduated from Boerne High School and attended secretarial school before beginning employment at Kelley Air Force Base in San Antonio, where she met the love of her life, Dean Leroy Peterson.Dorothy and Dean were married on January 8, 1954 in the Kelley Air Force Base Chapel and began their life together as a career Air Force couple. Together with Dean she fulfilled her dream of seeing the world, living in Montgomery, Alabama; Pleasanton, California; Tripoli, Libya; Summit, New Jersey; Omaha, Nebraska; New York, New York; Naples, Italy and Spring City, Pennsylvania before Dean's retirement in 1972. At that time, they moved their family to Portage, Michigan where they lived together for 31 years. After Dean's passing Dorothy moved to Country Meadows of Frederick Retirement Community near her daughter Tina, living first on the assisted living floor and later the Memory Support unit - we are ever thankful for the care they and Carroll Hospice gave her.While living in Portage, Dorothy was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo. She had wonderful friends there and enjoyed participating in many aspects of church life. She was also an active member of the local Garden club and loved tending their garden plots as well as those at her home in Portage. As a devoted lover of art, many of her works were of the flowers and garden she loved. She and Dean continued with their passion for travel by visiting many other places around the world and traveling to see children and family around the US and abroad. Dorothy was a magnet for animals and was always happiest in nature, especially loving the visitors to her many bird feeders. Her caring heart will be greatly missed by her family and her many friends. Though the terrible disease of Alzheimer's stripped away most of her memories, friends and family were always in her heart. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband Dean, who passed in 2003. She is survived by her older brother Lee Roy (Elizabeth) Sanchez; three children: Vickie (Paul) Kroeger of Simpsonville, South Carolina, Valerie McGee of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Tina (Bob) Peterson-Walker of New Market, Maryland; grandchildren: Kaitlin Kroeger, Dean Kroeger, Hunter McGee, Aidan Grace Walker and Eli Walker; 2 great-granddaughters Brooklynn and Sofie, and many loving nieces and nephews.A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, June 7th at 11:00 am at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411E Centre Ave., Portage, Michigan The family will receive guests prior to the service. Interment at Mount Ever Rest Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Kalamazoo Garden Council, or the charity of your choice.