Dorothy Lapham

March 14, 1925 — March 16, 2017

Dorothy Lapham

March 14, 1925 - March 16, 2017

Celebrating the Life of Dorothy Loos Lapham

March 14, 1025 – March 16, 2017

Dorothy Loos Lapham was born in Dallas, Texas, the second child of Alfred J. Loos and Vera Gunter Loos. A brother, Don Loos, was 7 years older.

Dorothy was an avid tennis player growing up. As a teenager, she was stricken with polio. She was very fortunate that it was a mild case and she was able to make a full recovery. But she was very sure to see that all of her children were vaccinated when the polio vaccine was developed.

Dorothy met Neil Anthony Lapham when they were both attending the University of Texas in 1944. After completing his degree in Electrical Engineering, Neil enlisted in the Navy. They decided to get married, so after Neil had finished his initial training they met in New York City and were married in Saint Frances de Chantal Catholic Church. Being in the middle of World War II, it was not a big wedding: the only attendees were Neil, Dorothy, the priest, and the church cleaning ladies. Afterwards they went to a soda shop to celebrate.

Dorothy and Neil bounced around the country with his various naval postings, spending time at the Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago, Illinois, and Boston, Massachusetts. Dorothy worked as a secretary while they were in Chicago.

After Neil was discharged they moved back to Austin, Texas, where Neil returned to the University of Texas and pursued a business degree. Their first child, Susan, was born there. After he graduated in 1948 Neil took a job at the Texas Company and they moved to Port Arthur to be closer to Neil's mother, Jennie, who was in failing health. Sons David and Michael were born in 1950 and 1951. Neil's mother took great delight in teasing him about Dorothy's third pregnancy, since Neil had been adamant when he was growing up that he would only have two children! A third son, Donald was born in 1954.

Dorothy dedicated herself to being a good mother and homemaker. She became involved in both Camp Fire Girls and Boy Scouts serving as a leader for her children’s groups. Both she and Neil loved to travel and see the world, so once the kids were old enough to travel, they built a homemade top carrier for the car, bought camping gear, and hit the road. It became an annual event for the family to take off every summer on a 3-4 week long car trip. They traveled as far east as New York City, west to California, and north to Canada. They particularly enjoyed visiting the National Parks.

After the children were all in school Dorothy decided to return to college and earn her degree. She graduated from Lamar College in 1962 with a degree in Education and found a job teaching third grade in the Nederland School District. Her teaching career was cut short by the birth of a daughter Gail in 1964 and son Gary in 1965. She continued her involvement with the Camp Fire Girls, later serving on the board of directors. She also actively pursued her gardening hobby serving as president of the Port Arthur Council of Garden Clubs.

In 1982 an opportunity came for Neil to work overseas, and Dorothy and he began a great adventure living and working in Rumbai, Sumatra, in Indonesia. With Gail in college and Gary attending high school in Singapore, it was their first experience as “empty nesters.” Dorothy adapted very well to the lifestyle, making new friends, reviving old hobbies and taking up new ones. She took up playing tennis again and won the Rumbai ladies doubles tournament one year. She also took up bridge again and learned to golf and quilt, producing many beautiful quilts over the following years. Living overseas also opened up the whole world to their travels. Dorothy and Neil became globetrotters, traveling across Europe, Asia, and Australia.

After five years in Rumbai, Neil retired and they returned home to Port Arthur in 1987. Still, they hadn't completely lost their wanderlust. When another job opportunity came up, Neil and Dorothy went to Kuwait in 1988. They stayed for one year, traveling around the Middle East when they had the chance. They returned home at the end of 1989, getting out of Kuwait just ahead of Saddam's invasion.

Neil and Dorothy settled into retirement in Groves, Texas. Soon they began a new chapter in their travels, buying a motor home and hitting the road with friends, caravanning across the country.

In 1994 Neil and Dorothy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a gathering of family and friends. Neil joked that this party was a lot larger than their wedding. Unfortunately Neil became ill with leukemia in 1995 and passed away in November of that year.

Dorothy filled her life with activities with friends and continued her travels. She enjoyed going to local theater and was a supporter of the Port Arthur Little Theater. Weekly lunches and dinners with friends and walking with friends at the mall were some of her favorite activities along with her continued interest in bridge and quilting. She also learned to play Texas Hold’em and enjoyed playing for pennies with friends. Dorothy met some other widows and they formed a group, calling themselves “The Gambling Widows” and making trips to the Louisiana casinos.

Even when her health started declining, she still looked forward to meeting her friends. Sometimes she would not want to get out of bed, but as soon as she was told she would miss meeting with her friends she would immediately change her mind and get going.

Dorothy passed away on March 16, 2017. We admired her attitude as she handled her declining health. She was so loath to complain that sometimes it took a while to realize that she was having a problem.

She is survived by her six children, daughters, Susan Lapham Dufour and her husband Jim of Bastrop, TX, Gail Lapham Wilson of Hockley, TX; sons David Lapham and his wife Lanette of Sunset Valley, TX, Michael Lapham and his wife Susan of Audubon, IA, Donald Lapham and his wife Geraldine of Beaumont, TX, and Gary Lapham and his wife Lori of Pittsburgh, PA.

There are nine grandchildren, in order: Matthew Lapham, Tommy Dufour, Julie Dufour Fedderson, Debbie Dufour, Sarah Wilson, Cyndi Dufour, Holly Wilson Nelson, and twins Joe & Laura Lapham.

The spouses of the grandchildren and the seven great-grandchildren round out the immediate family. In addition, there were many life-long friends, sisters-in laws, and extended family members that were very dear to Dorothy and very much a part of her life.

Dorothy was a loving woman with a very kind and gentle nature. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She was a founding member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Groves, TX.

The family wishes to extend thanks to Dr. William Pickard who cared for Dorothy as a friend as well as a physician. We also extend heartfelt thanks to her caregivers who saw to it that her last years were filled with many fun activities.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 19, 2017 from 5 PM until 8 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Monday, March 20, 2017 at St. Peter Catholic Church in Groves, celebrant will be Rev. J. C. Coon. Burial will be held Monday, March 20, 2017 at 2 PM at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

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