Obituary of Dorothy Louise McGarvey

McGarvey—Dorothy Louise, 91, died on June 21, 2016, in Newcastle, Maine, after a long illness. She was born in Altoona on November 15, 1924, to her parents Earl and Matilda Burkholder. Dorothy graduated from Altoona High School, married her husband, Lloyd in 1946, and remained happily married for 68 years until Lloyd's death in 2015. Over the course of their long life together, Lloyd's work took them to several states, but they returned home to Pennsylvania in 1989, where they lived in retirement in State College for 26 years. Dorothy is survived by two children, James McGarvey and wife Suzanne, and Anne Detmer and husband Greg, as well as six grandchildren and a beloved sister in-law, Lillian Gayle Feather. She is predeceased by a son, Paul McGarvey. Dorothy loved her life! She possessed a lively imagination and a wonderful sense of humor. She was never reading just one book, but several—fiction and books on gardening, cooking and health. She was a master of words, a fine writer and a whiz at Scrabble even when her memory had begun to fail. Dorothy's neighbors can attest to her love of gardening, her beautiful flowers and the vegetables she grew until she was 87, getting up early so she could weed before it got hot. Always eager to travel, Dorothy planned the family car trips in the 50's and 60's, and the retirement trips to Europe, Africa and Australia. The church was Dorothy's second home and her church friends like family. Throughout her life, she taught Sunday School, worked with church youth groups, and most enthusiastically played church organ. Having learned to play on an electrified pump organ in the 60's, she went on to play in congregations wherever she lived for fifty years. We, her children, will be forever grateful for the care and love shown to our mother and father as they grew older in the CMA church in State College. Living far from their children, Dorothy and Lloyd were fortunate to be looked after both by their church friends, and their kind and generous neighbors. Thanks to all their beloved friends. And finally, we would like to thank the wonderful staff at Harbor View Cottage of the Lincoln home in Newcastle Maine. There, Dorothy spent the last fifteen months of her life in memory care, ever so blessed to be part of life at that facility. She ate home cooked meals, was tended to with diligence and love and was never alone. How lucky we were to find the best of memory care on the Maine coast where Dorothy's daughter lives. Dorothy will be buried in Alto-Rest Parke in Altoona, alongside her husband, her mother and her father. Anyone wishing to honor Dorothy can donate to Harbor View Cottage at the Lincoln Home, 34 Main St., in Newcastle, ME 04553. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.