Memorial Gifts & Donations
Dorothy Elizabeth Lewis Heath, 91 died August 6, 2015 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice in Wilmington, North Carolina.
She was born at home April 27, 1924 on the corner of 18th and Castle Streets in Wilmington.
She was preceded in death by her parents Henry Thomas Lewis and Margaret Elizabeth Reynolds Lewis; brothers Henry Thurston “Turk” Lewis, James Edward Lewis, Sr., and Paul Wayland Lewis; and sisters Ruth Eileen Lewis, Nancy Faye Fox, and Cynthia LaNell Bland.
She is survived by her husband Ralph Clyde Heath, and daughters, Cynthia Marie Heath and Katherine Jean Heath of Leland; six grandchildren Connie Ganey (Mary Dixon) of Hawaii, Michael Ganey (Amanda Bautista) of Tasmania, Australia, Brian Sanie of Leland, Shoshawnna Hamilton (Christopher) of Marietta, Georgia, Joshua Sanie of Wilmington and Bronson Sanie of Leland; nine great-grandchildren Karly Bautista, Kya Ganey, Ivy Ganey, and Jacey Ganey of Australia, Isaiah Hamilton and Olivia Hamilton of Marietta Georgia, Cayman Sanie of Delco, Kyrsten Sanie of Virginia, and Eva Hutchins-Sanie of Leland.
She is also survived by sisters Margaret Alverta Robbins, Mildred Catherine Williamson, Wilma Joyce St. John, Virginia Marie Mills (Scott), and Barbara Jean Sellers all of Leland; sister-in-law Patty Lee Lewis of Castle Hayne, and brother-in-law Jerry Lynn Bland of Boiling Spring Lakes, and many loving nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was a graduate with the 1942 Class of New Hanover High School. She attended Raleigh School of Commerce where she met Ralph who was the nephew of the owner. Married in 1943, World War II took them to Camp Beale in Marysville, California. Upon discharge Ralph was offered a job in Marin County, California. They joined Novato Presbyterian Church where Dorothy was also church secretary. She later became the secretary at Loma Verde Elementary School.
After returning to North Carolina in the early 1960s Dorothy worked as a secretary for Queensboro Steel Company of Wilmington and Reigel Paper Company, of Reigelwood. She later opened a gift shop, Island Treasures, in Oak Island, NC. She sold the business and opened a florist shop, Petal Pusher Flowers, in Leland.
Dorothy, a life-long gardener enjoyed sitting among her flowers and watching the birds and butterflies. She also loved to cook and is especially remembered for her lemon meringue pie. She had a love for arts and crafts and was always ready to sew, cut, glue or frame. But her real joy was in tutoring young children. She worked with a tutoring program in Leland and with several children in the family. Some of those children came back to tell her they would not have completed school without her help.
Dorothy spent much of her childhood attending Woodburn Presbyterian Church in Leland and as an adult served there as a Sunday School teacher and Elder.
A memorial service will be held at Woodburn Presbyterian Church, 509 Village Road, Leland at 12 p.m., Saturday, August 15. Visitation is in the home the week before the service.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1406 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401 or Woodburn Presbyterian Church cemetery fund, P.O. Box 1140, Leland, NC 28451.
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Wilmington Funeral & Cremation Village Road, 525 Village Road, Leland NC 28451. 910.383.3511
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