Dorothy J. Towne

Dorothy Marie Jorski Towne was the seventh child born to Andrew and Sophia Jorski, a prominent family in Harrah, Oklahoma. She was a graduate of Oklahoma College for Women, now known as Oklahoma University of Art and Science. The advent of World War II put her plans on hold to study Spanish in Costa Rica.

During the second half of World War II she worked at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, and subsequently in Memphis, Tennessee, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts and Washington, DC, as a journalist and editor of Army Air Corps and Air Force publications. During the Berlin Airlift she was an historian based at Airlift headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany.

In 1951 she married then Major Raymond Lester Towne, Jr., at Walter Reed Chapel in Washington, D.C.

After active duty in the Air Force, the family moved to Long Beach, California. During that time, Mrs. Towne acquired a Masters Degree in Religious Studies from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She established and taught Scripture Study classes in her parish, St. Bartholomew’s, and several other parishes in Long Beach.

In December 1981 Mrs. Towne and her husband moved to Colorado Springs. For several years she led Scripture studies at Soldiers Chapel, Ft. Carson, was a sacristan, lector and involved in the RCIA process at St Paul’s Catholic Church. She also authored a booklet on the history of Pauline Chapel, “A Journey of Faith”, and worked to list the Chapel on the National Register of Historic Places.

She is survived by her children: Raymond Lester Towne III (Karen), Claremont, California; Sarah Margaret Towne Di Cicco (Albert), Pasadena, California; Andrew James Towne, Colorado Springs; a step-daughter, Christine Towne Drucker, Ojai, California; and two grandchildren: Julia Helen Victoria Di Cicco and William Raymond Towne.

Mrs. Towne’s Funeral Mass is scheduled at St Paul’s Catholic Church June 14th at 11 am. Her remains will be inurned next to her husband, Colonel Raymond L. Towne, Jr. at Arlington National Cemetery, date pending.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 9 El Pomar Road, Colorado Springs, 80906.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.