September 7, 1923 - February 10, 2024
Dorothy M. (Schmitter) Abram, 100, passed away peacefully at home with family in Loveland, Colorado.
Born in Logan, Ohio, she was the eldest child of Cleo (Darbyshire) and Willie Schmitter. Her parents moved to Nelsonville, Ohio to open Schmitter’s Bakery. Dorothy and her siblings grew up working in the family bakery. Her favorite job in the bakery was waiting on customers. Her mother often bragged on how Dorothy was able to run the cash register and make change at 6 years old.
Dorothy loved music and played the alto saxophone in her high school marching and orchestra bands. She won a regional Southeastern Ohio Music Contest for her saxophone solo performance. She graduated from Nelsonville High School in 1941.
After the start of World War II, she moved to Columbus, Ohio to work for the government at the depot. A coworker Mary, introduced Dorothy to her brother Charles, who was a serviceman stationed in Panama. They married after the war, and together having 6 children they raised in Columbus. After all the children were in school, she returned to work as a key punch operator for Children’s Weekly Reader. This company become Xerox Corporation from which she retired.
Dorothy will always be remembered as the most loving, kind, and generous soul. If you ever met her, you knew she loved you from her beautiful smile and how she was always glad to see you. If you would mention anything in her home that you liked, you would often go home with that item. She was always the most calm, loving, caring, and sane person in any crisis situation, and always a good listener.
She loved working her word puzzles and games on paper and the computer. She dearly loved her family, grandchildren, and friends always remembering their birthdays and sending a card.
Dorothy was preceded in death by: her parents, sisters Cleo (Johnny) Rapp, Leona (Jack) Semian and brother Bill (Ginny) Schmitter. Her husband, Charles Abram Sr., Children: Carol (Ron) Hinkle, Joseph (Mary Ellen) Abram, Great-grandchildren: Jeremy Abram, and Walter Estep. Her dear friend since elementary school who in their later years would talk on the phone every day, Deloris (Mender) Nelson.
She is survived by her children: Mary (Tom) Koon, Charles (Gloria) Abram of Columbus, Alice (Phillip) Stevens of Greenup, Kentucky, and John (Richie) Abram of Loveland, Colorado. Loving niece, Shirley Tomsic (Angie and Joe) of Yucca Valley, California and dear friend Elizabeth Kirkland of Columbus.
Her Grandchildren: Ronnie-Kimberly-Pam Hinkle, Christy and Jennifer Koon, Shelly-Chuckie III-Kelly-Jodi Abram, Angie-Phil-Alex Stevens, Louise-Paulette-Bobbie Clark, Patty Dowden, Joe Jr.-Paul-Robert Abram and many great-grandchildren.
It is Dorothy’s desire to be cremated with no showing, no flowers. Her prayer and message she wrote for all was: May God plant understanding in your hearts not yet touched by disability and age. Love me as I was and not wonder how I got that way. Love forever and forever. Love Mom, Grandma, Dorothy XOXO
Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home and Crematory, Loveland Colorado handling care. Later in spring/summer, some ashes scattered and then interred at Concord Cemetery, Grove City, Ohio.
