Dorothy M. Clark

Dorothy Mae Clark, 90 years old of 104 N. Main Street, Bendersville, PA died July 20th, 2011 at Heartland Hospice House, Wilmington, DE. She was the wife of 54 years to Dale Eugene Clark who passed away in 1997. Dorothy was born December 20, 1920 in Bendersville and was the daughter of Harry G. and Frances J. (Thomas) Orner. She had three sisters Edna Peffer, Helen Snyder and Bertha Merle Orner and five brothers: Lloyd, Clyde, Dale, Emerson and Robert all who predeceased her. Additionally, she was the mother to son, Van de Jay Clark who passed in 1991 and mother-in-law to Delaware State Senator Robert T. Connor who passed in 1997 and Pamela R. Clark who passed in 2007. In 1943, she was employed by The War Department at the Air Depot in Canal Zone, Panama where she was supervisor of the Receiving Section of incoming freight for Central and South America. She and her husband Dale, who was in the Army Air Corps in WW II, returned to the states in 1947 when he was hospitalized for three years in Valley Forge and Lebanon hospitals for injuries received in a plane crash in Argentina. They established a television and appliance business and had many rental properties in Bendersville. Dale and Dorothy moved to Miami, Florida for their health in 1973 and Dorothy returned to live out her years in Bendersville in 2000. In April of this year, after suffering a fall at her home, she had relocated to Delaware to live with her daughter. She was a graduate of Biglerville High School in 1939 and was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church all her life except during her time in Miami where she attended Christ the King Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star # 342, Samaria Shrine # 43 of Gettysburg, AARP, Senior Citizens of Biglerville, Landlord Association of Adams County, Historical Society of Biglerville and the Pathfinder's Sunday School Class. Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Delaware State Senator Dorinda "Dori" Connor of New Castle, Delaware. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Brad and Brian Connor of Delaware, Emily Clark of New York City and Katherine and her husband, Jason Morton of St. Petersburg, Florida; sister-in-law, Doreene Bittinger of New Oxford and numerous nieces and nephews. Special appreciation from the family is given to Randy and Linda Snyder and Charles and Phyllis Hershey for their special care and assistance throughout the years. Services will be held at Dugan Funeral Home, 111 S. Main Street, Bendersville, PA at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 30, 2011. The viewing will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, PO Box 449, Bendersville, PA 17306.