Doris T. Dinsdale

November 20, 1928 - December 25, 2013

Doris was born in Skipton, England on November 20, 1928. Her mother’s name was Emilia and her father’s name was Luigi. She was the youngest sister of 3 daughters. Older sister was Leda, middle sister Mary is still living in England.

The family was in the ice cream business. They expanded to Ice Cream Factory and China Shop. Everyone worked in the shop but Doris mostly went with her father on his motorcycle delivering Ice Cream. During WWII after school, Doris and her sisters worked in a Johnson & Johnson factory making medical supplies.

She married Ralph Dinsdale and soon after they moved to Australia in the early 50’s looking for new opportunities. Soon after moving to Australia her first son Martin was born. Not long after Doris got home sick and tired of the heat in Australia all 3 moved back to England.

Eventually they moved to San Diego, CA where Ralph’s mother was living. Then Jeff was born. They lived in a few different places in San Diego until finally settling down in Spring Valley late in 1960, where Doris lived the remainder of her life.

Doris and her family worked very hard at fixing up the house inside and out. Often Doris would be moving dirt in the wheelbarrow, digging in the yard and gardening.

Some of the jobs Jeff remembers when younger: she worked at an Italian restaurant; worked at White Front in La Mesa in the Bakery Department and brought day old donuts home every night. She worked in retail for a while, and then started working at Grossmont and Sharp Hospital where she became a Central Supply Technician: where you sterilize and deliver surgical equipment. She did this job until she retired in the early 90’s.

After retirement she was able to spend more time taking care of her grandkids, do her crafting, taking bus trips to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. She also went to New York to meet an aunt for the first time.

Family always came first with Doris. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Loved family get together, trips to Disneyland, the Lavender Fields, San Francisco, England and the Flower Fields in Carlsbad.

She loved flowers and gardening. Her favorite flowers were lavender and roses. She liked to care for the roses and other plants in her yard. She had quite a way with plants and getting them to grow. She was very proud of her garden.

After retiring she devoted a lot of time to making quilts for many members of her family, making porcelain dolls and sewing clothes for them. She would love to go into her den and play her piano. Some of her favorite songs to play were classical.

She was always very involved with her family. She was able to attend the high school graduations of her grandchildren Matthew, Megan, and Mabry. Her granddaughter Jessica attended St. Martin’s from 1998-2007. During this time Doris went to all of the Grandparent’s Days, Christmas Programs, many plays, and Jessica’s graduation. She was always so proud of her grandchildren.

When Jessica was younger Doris and her other grandmother Mary would come to Jessica’s house on Halloween. They would always have lasagna for dinner, Jeff would roast pumpkin seeds, and then Doris, Mary, Ginger and Jessica would all go out trick-or-treating. They would always have such a great time, and did this for many years.

Doris loved Winnie the Pooh. Her family would often buy her Pooh cups, Pooh calendars, anything with Pooh on it. She would be thrilled.

She loved her sweets: chocolates from Sees, licorice all sorts, cakes. Doris would spend much time and money at the store All things Bright and British in La Mesa.

She would often time cook for family get together at her house even though she didn’t like to cook. Many times she would over cook the roast so it was a bit on the dry side. Or her Yorkshire pudding wouldn’t turn out right. But it didn’t matterm we were together.

She could never pass by a baby without admiring it. She loved babies. And the same with little dogs. When Doris, Jessica, and Ginger would go to Grossmont Center when they had the pet store where people could walk the dogs, mom would be so excited to pet them. And they loved her right back.

One of her favorite things to do was to go to the 99 cent store and Dollar Tree and buy a bunch of junk. She was really good at this and always had the best time.

Doris is survived by her youngest son and wife, Jeffrey and Ginger Dinsdale, granddaughter Jessica; daughter in law Mary Dinsdale, grandson Matthew and granddaughters Megan and Mabry. Her middle sister Mary, niece and husband Gina and John Ellis

She was preceded in death by her sister Leda (Gina’s mother), oldest son Martin Dinsdale and her husband Ralph Dinsdale (divorced).

Doris was much loved and will be greatly missed.