Dorothy Rosetta Gibbon Church, 99, of Burlington, WA, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, February 10, 2024, just 4 months before she would have celebrated her 100th birthday. Dorothy was born June 23, 1924, to Chester and Rosetta Perry Gibbon in Renton, WA.

She grew up in Seattle, WA, where she graduated from Franklin High School in 1941. She attended Tahoma Full Gospel Tabernacle (name later changed to Tahoma Assembly of God church) for many years. She taught Sunday School there and served as the church pianist as well. She taught at the Maple Valley Christian School sometime later. She worked several years at the Ranier Glove Factory where she assembled leather gloves. She was also a publication editor at the Renton News Chronicle. In 1979 she started her own business called Publication Service and edited a medical journal for Northwest Medicine. In later years she continued to freelance her work through Words To Go.

Dorothy met her husband Charles Church in 1942 through her cousin, Lois Maxwell. Charles made her laugh hysterically. They hit it off immediately and were married on June 28, 1942. Their son David was born the next year and daughter Carol ten years later.

Dorothy was very talented, witty, full of joy and humor, and she always had a favorite pet cat or two over the years. She loved her family dearly, enjoyed birthday parties and social events as well as quiet hobbies like writing short stories, working crossword puzzles, and reading books. She was loved by many.

Dorothy leaves behind her son, David Church (Connie) of Millington, TN and daughter, Carol Ward (Mike) of Arlington, WA. She also leaves behind her two granddaughters Carla Robertson (Ken) of Bartlett, TN, and Desta Werner (Mike) of Seneca, SC, and one grandson Marcus Ward of Mercer Island, WA, and his sons Mason and Connor.

Dorothy leaves behind her five great-grandchildren Jessica Robertson, Sara Priddy, Andrew Werner, David Werner and Spencer Robertson as well as one great-great grandson Oliver Priddy. In addition, she leaves behind her brother Gary Gibbon (Myra) of Cornelius, OR, and her two nieces Susan Mitchell (John) and Jilann Olseene (Andrew), her nephew Lance Gibbon (Michelle), her two great-nieces Ellie Mitchell and Emily Olseene, and her three great-nephews Noah Gibbon, Sam Gibbon, and Robert Mitchell.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years Charles Church, parents Chester and Rosetta Perry Gibbon, her brother Ronald Gibbon, and great-grandson Jacob Robertson.

Dorothy always planned to live to be 100 and have a big birthday party. Her family and friends would like to honor her by planning a 100th birthday celebration of her life this summer.

The family requests any remembrances be made in the form of a charitable gift to the Maple Valley Historical Society at Box 123, Maple Valley, WA 98038 in Dorothy Rosetta Gibbon Church's honor.