Indianapolis
Dorothy Jean Howell Northern, 87, passed peacefully in her home Thursday, August 25, 2016.
Dorothy was born Oct.4, 1928, in Genesee County, New York state, daughter of Edward and Sarah (Patten) Howell. She was a 1946 graduate of Oakfield High School and was employed with TWA from 1950-56 in Indianapolis. Dorothy married Hershel M. Northern of Indianapolis June 5, 1953. Hershel was a 1958 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and ministered various Methodist churches in Indiana. Dorothy was owner and manager of the Northern Decorating Center in Columbus, Indiana, for 19 years. Hershel was also associated with mental health agencies in Columbus Indiana.
Dorothy enjoyed sending birthday greetings to family and friends saying “everyone needs recognition of their birthday”. She also enjoyed genealogy, music, gardening, sewing in her younger years, hummingbirds and traveling. Dorothy found traveling with her husband to various countries for work related conferences a privilege and enjoyed the time immensely. After her husband passed, Dorothy spent eight years as an Oasis reading mentor to the early elementary school age students, she continued to mentor into her 80’s.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband, Hershel; and her siblings, James Howell, Mary Komar and Charlotte Cornish.
She is survived by her three children, Sarah (Jeffrey) Busch of Nashville, Tennessee, Virgil Northern of Indianapolis, Rebecca (Tim) Bailey of Greenwood, Indiana; her grandchildren, Rachel, David and Michael Bailey; and four generations of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, Dorothy requests any honorarium be made in her name to Oakdale Christian Academy, memorial gifts can be made online at oakdalechristian.org/give or by sending a check to Oakdale Christian Academy at 5801 Beattyville Road, Jackson, Kentucky 41339.
Finally, Dorothy leaves with this final thought John 13: 34-35 “….A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Services for Dorothy will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 at Singleton Community Mortuary and Memorial Center. Visitation will befrom 9 a.m. until service time Thursday, Sept. 1 at the mortuary. Interment will follow at Washington Park East Cemetery.
Online condolences may be extended to the family by visiting www.singletonmortuary.com.
