July 18, 1917 - May 5, 2012
July 18, 1917 - May 5, 2012
Our wonderful mother, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend died peacefully in her sleep the morning of May 5, 2012, at the age of 94. We will miss and always remember her.
Dorothy was born on July 18, 1917, in Aberdeen at the old St. Joseph’s Hospital. She was the eldest of three children born to Teresa (McCann) Draper and Lincoln VanValkenburg (later Buren) Draper of Aberdeen.
She is survived by her husband, Henry; sister, Virginia Tibbals of Berkley, Calif.; daughters, Cynthia and Claire; sons, Steven and David; and grandchildren, Layne, Bryan, Derek and Michael. She was preceded in death by her brother, R.G. Jim Draper of Moses Lake.
She attended the old Terrace Heights School, Miller Junior High, went to high school in Riverside, California, as well as Aberdeen’s J.M. Weatherwax High School where she graduated in 1935. Dorothy completed the business course at Grays Harbor College, attended Marylhurst College in Oregon, and attended the University of Washington where she met Henry Soike while she taught dancing lessons in the evenings after classes.
She joined the Boeing Company workforce where she enjoyed working as an executive secretary for 3 years during World War II.
Dorothy and Henry wed in 1945, and were fortunate to celebrate 67 years of marriage last summer. They lived in Seattle when first married, then Santa Monica, California before moving back to Aberdeen where they established their home and began their family. The couple enjoyed 47 years in the family home near Sam Benn Park.
Dorothy was a voracious reader, and enjoyed her part-time volunteer work as a reading assistant-teacher at St. Mary’s School. Dorothy loved gardening, flower arranging, music, ballroom dance, and she possessed a great sense of design that showed in her sewing.
Our families’ special appreciations go to Jill and her team at Channel Point Village in Hoquiam where the couple resided for eight years; and to Nancy and Sue and their team at Westhaven Villa in Aberdeen, their current home. The quality of living experience in each and care when occasionally necessary has been exceptional. A special thanks also goes to Sandie Pennant who became a close friend of both Dorothy and Henry and has truly become the newest member of our family.
Arrangements are via Whiteside Mortuary. Please visit www.whitesidefamilymortuaries.com to post a note to the guestbook. Dorothy hoped gifts of support could be sent to St. Mary School, 518 North H St., Aberdeen, WA (360-532-1230) in-lieu-of flowers. Dorothy will be interred in the Draper family plot at Fern Hill, and a life celebration is being arranged by family members and will be announced at a later date.
