Dorothy Ludwig Gillis

Dorothy Jean Dunlap Ludwig Gillis 5/29/21-11/12/06

Dorothy passed away at 6:40 in the evening of November 12, 2006 at Bel-Air Care Center, Alliance, OH, where she was lovingly taken care of the last eight months of her life. After an eight year battle with Alzheimer’s, she died peacefully and with dignity.

Preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Essie Dunlap, her first husband, Joseph Ludwig (1981) and her son Jeffrey (1987), Dorothy is survived by her husband William Gillis, sister Bonnie (Canton), daughter Kathy Dye (Richmond, Va.), sons David (Alliance), Todd (Beloit), Sam (Kent) and Dan (Sebring) Ludwig as well as her 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was born and raised in Sebring, OH. A graduate of Sebring High School, she loved music, which she studied at Mount Union College, and then later at the prestigious Julliard School in New York.

Upon returning to Sebring, Dorothy taught school and became active at First United Methodist Church. Among her many contributions to the community was the Concern, a second hand clothing store which quickly outgrew it’s basement beginnings and is still in existence today. Dorothy was involved in many church organizations, including the Brown Bag Ladies, the United Methodist Women’s Group, the Friendship Circle and Sebring Church Camp. Her largest contribution to the church was her beautiful singing voice, which could be heard at nearly every church service, as well as many funerals and weddings.

After the 1981 passing of her first husband, Joseph, Dorothy met and married William. The two had a winter home in Virginia, where Dorothy taught learning disabled children–a practice she continued when she returned to Sebring.

Visitors to her home were often greeted by the smell of fresh baked pies, and savory smelling dinners. Dorothy loved the Bible, people and singing and took advantage of any opportunity that arose to combine all three. She was often heard singing passages of one of her favorite songs, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” And now, after a long and plentiful life, he has Dorothy.

Every person who had the privilege of meeting Dorothy will miss her greatly. Contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church and the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Funeral Services will be held at Gednetz-Ruzek Funeral Home at 1:00 PM Thursday, November 16, 2006. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 2 to 8 PM, with family present from 6 to 8 PM. Burial will be in Grandview cemetery in Sebring. Arrangements by Gednetz-Ruzek Funeral Home, friends may register online at www.grfuneralhome.com .