HOPE
Dorothy Davis Sturgeon, 99, of Hope passed away peacefully at Our Hospice on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Dorothy was born on November 7, 1923, to Putnam and Cecil (Stout) Davis, in Hope, Indiana. She was engaged to James Harold Sturgeon on December 6, 1941, the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Jim went off to fight in the war. Dorothy moved to Indianapolis to live with her sister, Marceal, and brother-in-law, Jim Shirley, while she waited for her beloved Jim to return home from war. While waiting for Jim, Dorothy supervised 40 women in the clerical department of Public Service Indiana in Indianapolis.
Dorothy spent many sleepless nights waiting to hear any updates about Jim. Jim finally arrived back in Indianapolis in early October 1945. Jim only knew that his sweetheart Dorothy lived on Pleasant Run Parkway in Indianapolis. So Jim began walking up and down the street at 2:00 a.m. calling out Dorothy’s name until he finally found the love of his life. They were married on October 28, 1945, at the Hope Moravian Church.
Dorothy and Jim began married life in Indianapolis, Indiana. Donald Sturgeon was born to Jim and Dorothy on July 28, 1951.
Dorothy’s dad was a farmer in Hope, Indiana, and wanted to retire. He asked Dorothy and Jim to move back to Hope, Indiana, to take over the farming operation. Dorothy was very sad to give up her new home in Indianapolis but in the autumn of 1952 they moved to a farm northeast of Hope, Indiana.
Dorothy often talked about buying dirt and all the hard work that went into cleaning up the farm house. She longed for her brand new home that she had left in Indianapolis. On March 22, 1955, their second son, David Sturgeon, was born eight weeks premature and miraculously survived.
Dorothy worked for the Flatrock-Hawcreek School System in the bookstore at the new Hauser High School in 1967-68. In 1968, she began work at Irwin Union Bank and trust in the stocks and bonds department. Every Saturday morning she conducted cooking lessons for her two sons so that they could take turns preparing supper because Dorothy often was required to work late nights at the bank. Dorothy retired from Irwin Union in 1979 and worked along side Jim on their family farm until Jim’s death in 2005.
Dorothy was a member of Hope Moravian Church.
Dorothy is survived by her son, David (Cindy) Sturgeon, of Indianapolis, daughter-in-law, Jane Sturgeon of Hagerstown, Indiana; grandchildren, Daniel Sturgeon of Hagerstown, Indiana, James (Amanda) Sturgeon of Conway, South Carolina, Leslie (Peter) Moore of Indianapolis, Indiana, Chad (Molly) Sturgeon, Pendleton, Indiana, Brian (Ben) Cottongim Sturgeon of Indianapolis, Indiana, Charles (Taryn) Tyree of Danville, Indiana, and Tiffany (Erik) Peterman of Midlothian, Texas; great grandchildren, Harper, Charlotte and William Sturgeon of Conway, South Carolina, James, Jack and Macy Sturgeon of Pendleton, Indiana, J.T. and Sam Moore of Indianapolis, Indiana, Briley and Emery Tyree of Danville, Indiana, and Easton, Evie, and Ella Peterman of Midlothian, Texas; nieces, Patricia (Richard) Rodebaugh of Winterville, North Carolina, and Bonnie (Danny) Titus of Columbus, Indiana; and several great nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was proceeded in death by her parents, Putnam and Cecil Davis, husband, Jim Sturgeon, son, Donald Sturgeon, and sister, Marceal Shirley.
The funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 21 at 1 p.m. at Hope Moravian Church with Pastor Andy Kilps officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until time of service at the church. Burial will follow at Hawcreek Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hope Moravian Church, 202 Main Street, Hope, Indiana 47246 or Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 E 17th Street, Columbus, Indiana 47201.
Online condolences may be sent to the Sturgeon Family at www.normanfuneralhome.net.
