Dorothy Bradshaw Wingard

Dorothy Bradshaw Wingard, age 88, died at her residence in Austin, Texas on Friday, September 11, 2015. Her death ends her long, courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, deacon, and friend, Dorothy will be missed by the many whose lives she touched. She was preceded in death by Louis Howard Wingard, her husband of 43 years; her parents, Perry Bradshaw and Bernice Bridge Bradshaw; and her daughter, Sue Ann Wingard. Dorothy is survived by her three sons, Dale Howard Wingard of Houston; David Ray Wingard and wife Andrea Roberts of Austin; and James Edward Wingard and wife Kristin Pennington Wingard of San Marcos. Dorothy is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Jim Whitten of San Angelo, and sister-in-law, Joyce Wingard and daughter-in-law Debbie Wingard. Dorothy is also survived by her six grandchildren, Jonathan Wingard, Daniel Wingard and wife Amanda, Michael Wingard, Rachel Wingard, Massie Wingard, and Mattison Wingard, two great-grandchildren, Genevieve Wingard and Jackson Wingard, and her two beloved nieces Amy Knight and husband John, and Alice Whitten and husband Paul Heckathorn.

Dorothy was born and delivered by her grandmother at her home in Calf Creek, a rural community 15 miles southwest of Brady, Texas, on July 8, 1927. She grew up a Texas farm girl during the Depression and World War II, graduating from Brady High School in 1944 and moved to Austin to live with her aunt, Ruby B. Ray, at age 16. Upon arriving in Austin, Dorothy began her employment as a mail sorter at the downtown post office. Later, she took the federal civil service exam and was hired by the Internal Revenue Service, where she met her husband Louis. They married on April 15, 1949, in Austin. Dale, her first child, was born in 1950, and David was born in 1954. The family moved to Houston in 1957, the year daughter Sue was born. After Sue died of leukemia in 1961, the family returned to Austin where James was born in 1963.

Although Dorothy was employed for periods throughout her life, after marriage she spent most of her time focused on her family, her many friends, and her faith. She was a devoted member of the University Baptist Church, serving the church as an ordained deacon and church hostess for many years.

Dorothy never met a stranger. She was a positive, optimistic person who loved to laugh, loved her family, and loved people. She was a very giving person, constantly finding ways to be of service to others. Dorothy touched many, was loved by many, and will be missed by many. Hers was a life well-lived.

The family would like express our heartfelt gratitude to close family friends Darlene and Steven Gavenda for their friendship, love, care and support throughout Dorothy's life and particularly through her illness.

Visitation will be from 5-8 PM Thursday, September 17, at Weed-Corley-Fish South, 2620 South Congress Ave.

Memorial service will be Noon Friday, September 18, at University Baptist Church (UBC) in Austin, followed by a luncheon reception. UBC is located at 2130 Guadalupe St., corner of 22nd St. and Guadalupe. Parking is available in the Callaway House garage behind the church; entrance on Nueces St. south of the intersection with 22nd St. (Bring your parking ticket into the church to be stamped for free parking.)

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to University Baptist Church or The Alzheimer's Foundation.