Dorothy "Dot" Aldrich

May 22, 2022 at her daughter’s home in Michigan.

She is predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Richard Earl Aldrich, her parents, Matthew and Grace Washington, her sister Grace Easom (William, Jr), her brothers John (Avis) and

James (Pat). She is survived by her youngest brother, Alvin (Toni), daughters Nancy

Lynn Ruark (Ronald) and Pamela Jane Clemens (Jason), three grandchildren,

Jennifer Lynn Haddad (Luke), Jeffrey Reese Ruark (Ashley), and Scott Richard

Ruark (Heather), and three great grandchildren, Harper, Harrison and Lila.

Born in 1935 in Prince George County, Virginia Dot spent most of her youth

in Norfolk. She enjoyed roller skating at the Mercury Roller Rink, gardening at

Lafayette (City) Park and singing in the church choir at Wesley Methodist Church.

She graduated from Norview High School in 1954.

In December of 1954, Dot married a Sailor from Vermont and for 27 years,

they moved every 2-3 years as Richard served in the United States Navy. As a Navy

wife, Dot taught their daughters that “a place is what you make it.” They made

lifelong friendships from every duty station including Norfolk, Yorktown,

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Jacksonville, FL. They settled in Williamsburg,

Virginia when Richard retired. Dot loved the colonial capitol and its history. She

loved to ride her bike on Duke of Gloucester Street and she and Richard spent many

evenings sitting on a bench in Merchants Square.

Friends described Dot as always smiling and always serving. She joyfully

served the Lord at the Williamsburg Community Chapel where she was one of the

first 100 members. She served as a volunteer in the church office and with the Mini

Bible College. For years, Dot and Richard folded and prepared the church bulletins

and inserts for the Sunday services. She also made many lasagna meals through the years for those in need or those she loved.

Dot was devoted to her family and they adored her. Both of her daughters described her as their best friend and they talked weekly, sometimes daily. Her sonin-laws were treated like kings. Her grandchildren were the light of her life.

If you knew Dot, you knew about her grandkids, complete with pictures. Even though they

lived in other states, Grandmommy and Granddaddy never missed an important

event. One or more of the grandkids would spend a month with them in

Williamsburg every summer. The grandkids now bring their families to spend time

and create memories like they did.

Dot was a faithful, devoted wife to Richard for 63 years. They were partners in life and best friends who loved to laugh. Dot cared for him unconditionally through many health issues and he credited her with living as long as he did. She was an example of selfless devotion to her family and as a result, her daughters gladly took care of Dot as she needed. Her family is thankful for her lifelong example of joyfully serving the Lord and her family. Dot will be buried with Richard at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.