Dorothy Ann Simon

Mrs. Dorothy Ann Simon, 88, died January 23, 2024 in Raleigh NC.  That morning, her eldest child, Lynn Ann Simon, preceded her in death in Saginaw MI after a nine-week battle with leukemia.  We will celebrate their lives at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4705 Brockway Rd in Saginaw, followed by inurnment at Oakwood Memorial Mausoleum on Gratiot Rd.

Dorothy was born in Saginaw to the late Robert W. and Cassie Mae (Hansen) Thompson in August 1935. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don R. Simon; her brother, Robert W. Thompson Jr.; and nephew, James Thompson.  She is survived by her brother, Thomas L. Thompson of Novi MI (wife Ann and daughter Karen); sister-in-law, Joan Thompson of Linthicum MD (sons John and David and daughter Linda); and many cousins from the Thompson and Hansen families.  Don’s niece in Saginaw, Cathy Noonan (Tim), and her family were especially close to both Dorothy and Lynn.

Dorothy grew up in a house on the Kochville Rd, where she attended the Jewett School.  The family moved into a new home at Newberry and Malzahn, just a few blocks from South Intermediate School.  In 1953 Dorothy graduated from Arthur Hill High School, where she met her husband, Don R. Simon (AHHS class of 1951.).  Dorothy and Don made many friends at AHHS, especially Marge and the late Jim Fobear.

Dorothy and Don were married September 11, 1954 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church.  Loving and devoted to each another for a short 41 years, they were separated only by his death in 1995.  She prayed for 29 years to be reunited with him in heaven as soon as it pleased God to take her home.

Dorothy and Don were blessed with four children:  the late Lynn Simon, Laura Stone (John) of Benson NC, Lisa Hendel (Gary) of Albuquerque NM, and John Simon of Raleigh NC.  Her grandchildren, some graduates of Grandma Dorothy’s Boot Camp, are Julia Hoeppner (Saginaw), Jessica LeVasseur (Clinton MI), Celeste Robinson (Raleigh NC), Matt Goodman (San Diego CA), Simon Hendel (Indianapolis IN), Conrad Simon (Raleigh NC), and Courtney Starovasnik (Garner NC).  Great grandchildren are Jack Hoeppner, Madeline LeVasseur, Oliver LeVasseur, Blake Robinson, and Olivia Goodman.

After his graduation from Central Michigan University in 1959, Don joined IBM, with initial assignments in Flint and Saginaw.  Dorothy followed Don through moves to Arlington Heights IL in 1966 and Raleigh NC in 1976.  She enjoyed being a full-time mother, running the library, heading the PTA, supervising the lunchroom, chaperoning field trips, and making her popular Scotcheroos for bake sales.  She made sure her children got wherever they needed to be:  church, library, music lessons, pool, horse stables, team sports, etc.   A lifelong lover of books, she read in the car as she waited.  She was happiest at home, playing card and board games with her family, listening to show tunes, and keeping watch over the neighborhood.

After the children left home and Don retired from IBM, Dorothy and Don bought a fifth wheel trailer and truck to visit her parents in Florida and family in Michigan.  Having never even camped in a tent, Dorothy’s research and organization skills were critical to handling this rig.  They made many friends in RV parks and always found time to catch a musical in Toronto.  Dorothy did the driving (if you knew Don you wouldn’t have to ask why).

Dorothy inherited knitting and crocheting skills from her mother, making hundreds of afghans, baby sets, hockey caps/mittens, and personalized Christmas stockings.   Knitting was a comfort during Don’s open-heart operations and while recovering from her own serious back surgeries.   She made many blankets for Project Linus and hats for The Salvation Army.  In lieu of flowers, we suggest memorials to these organizations or to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church.

The family thanks Pastor Andy Retberg and the members of St. John’s for their support in sharing the many blessings God gave to Dorothy and Lynn during their lives.  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!