Dorothy H. Graham

We celebrate the life of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and dear neighbor, Dorothy (Dottie) H. Graham. Dorothy was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota February 18, 1922, and passed from the earth plane June 14, 2021. She spent her early years in Minnesota, but by the time she was eight years old she had moved to Florida, the Sunshine State. She would live in Venice, Florida until she was ready for college. Dorothy matriculated at Bob Jones University in 1939 and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943. She returned to work in Minnesota for several years before returning to serve as the Registrar at Bob Jones University. In 1954 Dorothy and two friends, who were newly wedded, served as couriers/drivers of new Cadillac convertible. All were headed to Westwood, California to begin employment with a start-up company called Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), where she served in field operations and later as the company grew, she became the office manager. She continued in their employ until 1960 when she married T. Leslie Graham in Venice, Florida at her childhood home. Les and Dottie moved to San Diego, bought a home where they lived, laughed, and loved until each were called “home”. I can remember her saying that she “was so happy she waited for God’s Best Man for her”, followed by a verse from Mark “He doeth all things well.”

Dottie continued with the work she had started with CRU as a layman, sharing her faith and joy with all she encountered. She had a computerize filing system that helped her keep up with friends and acquaintances. Her computer was a shoebox filled with 3X5 cards, upon which was carefully printed important data that was meticulously updated to include birthdays, marriages, anniversaries, births, etc. Refusing to use a “real” computer, this continued until the end.

Dottie was the gold standard for being a “people person”. One might say that this was her calling…she loved people and they loved her back. She had many endearing qualities, some were quirky. Dottie never met a piece of paper she did not like…she saved everything, from every card she received from her “hubby”, to every paper scratched on by grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and all letters from children. We will save the memories.

Dottie is survived by a son, Thomas L Graham, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Linda Graham, grandchildren Gregg Miller and granddaughter-in-law Lauren Bowen, Todd Graham and granddaughter-in-law Britni Graham, five great-grandchildren, and a sister, Grace Bellamy.

A memorial gathering will be held at El Camino Memorial-Sorrento Valley on July 15, 2021, at 11 AM