Dorothy Theis (Gable) Stem

Dorothy Theis (Gable) Stem passed away Friday, December 8th at Silvercrest nursing home. Dorothy was born August 29, 1923 in New Albany to the late Virgil and Josephine Theis. She had a life filled with family, friends, and adventures. Dot, as she was known to almost everyone, graduated from New Albany High School and attended Indiana University. She refused to go back to IU for her junior year, instead going to work for the war effort in the munitions laboratory at E. I. Du Pont until the end of WWII. She met her first husband, Jack M Gable, on a blind date after the war. They had two children and almost 28 years together until his untimely death in 1973. In 1981, Dot married Richard Stem. Dick and she traveled the world together enjoying different cultures, food, wine, and, of course, golf until his death in 2004. Dot loved playing both golf and bridge, but really excelled in golf. She was a member of the old New Albany Country Club where she won two club championships and played on the lady’s team that won the district. She was proud to have consistently made the championship flight well into her 70’s. She was also a member of St. Mark’s United Church of Christ and freely volunteered her time to work in the Soup Kitchen and the Clothes Closet there. She was an avid IU basketball fan and eventually converted Dick to a Hoosier fan even though he graduated from the University of Illinois. Dot was always fun and funny to be with and will be sorely missed. Survivors include her son, Jack T Gable (Janice), daughter Janet J Gable (Donna Freeman), two grandchildren, Jyl Applegate (Billy) and Elizabeth Gable, four great grandchildren, and the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of Richard K Stem. The family would like to express our deep gratitude to the staff at the Villages of Silvercrest, all of her caregivers, but especially Erica Ehringer and Christine Slaughter who were with her the longest, and the nurses at St Croix Hospice. A reception/visitation will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, Wednesday December 13, 2023 at Kraft Funeral Service, 2776 Charlestown Road in New Albany, Indiana with a memorial service to immediately follow. A private interment will take place later. The family requests contributions go to the New Albany Animal Shelter and St Marks UCC Soup Kitchen in New Albany.