The former Dorothy Gray Edgar was born in Galt (now Cambridge) on December 14, 1922. She grew up on a farm just outside of Ayr, Ontario. Dorothy attended Reidsville Public School — a one-room country school – for her primary education, then attended Ayr Continuation Secondary School.
Dorothy travelled to Chatham to train as a Registered Nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She graduated in 1946 and eventually becoming Supervisor in the Operating Room at St. Joseph’s. Later she moved to Windsor where she nursed at the Metropolitan Hospital. Dorothy met her husband Clifford, a Stationary Engineer at Metropolitan Hospital, while nursing at “The Met.” Dorothy is a Life Member of St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Chatham and of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.
Dorothy was very involved in the Home and School Association serving on the Executive Committee in Windsor, Ingersoll, and Chatham. She held the position of 2nd and 3rd Vice President at Winston Churchill School becoming President while her children were in school. She was a Lifetime Member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion, serving as President for two terms and Zone Commander for 7 years. She served as Chaplin for the Auxiliary for over 30 years. Dorothy also held offices of Publicity Chairman, Executive Member, Third and Second Vice President.
In 2003, Dorothy was presented with the Meritorious Service Award with Palm Leaf. This is the highest award the Royal Canadian Legion presents to any member. At the time, she was the only person in Kent County to ever achieve this high honour. There are only about 6 of these medals presented across Canada by the Royal Canadian Legion each year. This honour is presented for continued volunteer work in the whole community.
Dorothy served in the Ladies’ Auxiliary for over 60 years and was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion since 1982. Dorothy was named Legionette of the Year in 1986. Dorothy always stated that “it is your duty that you owe to your community and there is satisfaction in thinking that you make a difference.”
Dorothy was always deeply involved with her church, First Presbyterian Church, and was a member of Session at that church for 40 years. She was Past President of 3 mission groups and was president of Chatham-Kent Presbyterial for 3 years. Dorothy served as Representative Elder from the Session to the Presbytery of Chatham-Kent. She was convenor of the Session’s Memorial and Historical Committee. Dorothy was also a former Sunday School teacher.
She was the co-ordinator for countless years of the city-wide World Day of Prayer and Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada as well as a member of the Synod of Hamilton and London for three years. Dorothy served as a member of the Board of managers for 8 years, three of which she was chairman of the Office Committee. She served on the Finance Committee, the Chairman of the Congregational Life Committee, Mission and Outreach Committee, Church Growth Committee, 150 Anniversary Committee, and Pastoral Care Ministry for hospital visitation for her church. She was presented with an Honourary Life Membership by Goforth Women’s Missionary Society.
Dorothy’s love of caring and nursing led her to volunteer at Public General Hospital for over 25 years in Palliative Care and Pastoral Care for 3 years.
Dorothy and Clifford loved to travel, vacationing in Europe and Africa over 25 times. Dorothy also loved sports, being captain of her dart team and bowling. Her love of reading enriched her knowledge of world affairs. Dorothy and Clifford were married in 1949 and had three children — David in London, Margaret of Raleigh Township, and Monica Jane who was killed in a car accident in 1993. Clifford passed away in 2016.
