Dorothy Tontz Anderson Obituary
With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Dorothy Tontz Anderson (Portland, Oregon), who passed away on May 11, 2020 at the age of 104. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.
Dorothy Louise Tontz Anderson (August 13, 1915-May 11, 2020) passed into eternity after 104 years of full life. She was the daughter of an educator and the second of 7 children who married and had 3 sons (Lloyd, Philip, and Jim) followed by a daughter (Christine). Dorothy grew up in the Portland area and was close to her siblings Bea, Ruth, Bob, Jean, Chuck and Evelyn.
She was an extraordinary woman known for her industrious nature influenced by living through the Great Depression and the early death of her father. During the war years, she worked in the Portland shipyards building naval vessels. In 1947, she and her husband (Loyed) owned the drug section of the Astoria Public Market, which they subsequently sold, and then purchased the Alameda Pharmacy that employed 3 pharmacists. In time, Dorothy earned a pharmacy degree by attending night school at OSU. Eventually, they opened the Lloyd Center Pharmacy, operated it until retirement in 1980, and acquired a number of properties they managed.
Dorothy was a person of great intellect. She would “hold court” at family get togethers and discuss everything from history to medicine, literature to politics and popular culture. She would take normally benign subjects and make them fascinating and humorous with quick wit. She also had a deep faith and a strong ethical code that was evident throughout these conversations.
This had an influence on her children. The oldest was to become a pastor, while her second son became a missionary. The legacy continued as her grandchildren and great grandchildren married pastors, became overseas missionaries, and served at various camps as counselors. Others carried on the legacy of hard work acquiring advanced degrees. One earned a law degree. There are 2 CPA’s, an MBA, an MD, entrepreneurs, another with a Masters in Planning, one with a prestigious degree in performing arts, one with a Masters in Nursing, and the list of achievements continues with degrees from Stanford University, the University of Washington, and Boston Conservatory, a high school valedictorian, a grandchild with a 4.0 in an engineering program and another with high marks in law school.
Stories abound of Dorothy lifting 2 five gallon buckets of paint (one in each hand) out of the trunk of her Mercedes and carrying them in her 70’s, on the second story roof cleaning out the gutters and insulating a crawl space in her 80’s, and outwalking her grand-daughter in her 90’s. She liked to play cards. She played Bridge with her Daughter-in-law Marcia for hours and with her circle of friends. When she hosted family, there were playful dogs to greet them, the smell of bacon in the morning, large helpings of ice cream in the evening, and envelopes with money at Christmas. Her German Swiss Heritage was evident with spectacular transformations of the living room over Christmas Eve night to a colorful wonder with stockings, presents, and homemade Christmas candy.
She was cared for by her daughter Christine and Son-in-law Larry Dickman in their home with help from Son Phillip and Marcia for over ten years. She spent her last days at Maple View Manor where she was very happy and loved to sing Gospel Hymns.
The list of survivors is many: Children (4) - Lloyd Anderson (Master of Theology), Jim Anderson (Doctorate of Theology), Philip Anderson (Electrical Engineer with 2 B.S.), and Christine Dickman (ED.M.). Grandchildren (16) are Michelle Anderson (C.P.A), Holly Anderson (Masters in Urban Planning), Stephen Anderson (Entrepreneur), Sharon Anderson (B.F.A in Musical Theatre-Triple Major), Heidi Anderson (C.P.A), Carmen Parish (B.A.), Dorothy Anderson (Masters in Nursing), Edward Anderson (B.A.), Anita DeLeon (B.A.), Chuck Anderson (Advertising), Greg Anderson (J.D.), Mark Anderson (M.B.A.), Brian Dickman (B.S.), Jana Dickman (M.S.Ed.), Rebekah Dickman (M.D.), Bethany Ellis (B.A.); Great-grandchildren (24), Benjamin Anderson Hopkins, Molly Anderson (B.A.), Hannah Anderson (with Gramma), Madeline Anderson (Engineering Student), Sophia Lumsden, Cosette Lumsden, Elijah Parish, Simon Parish, Isaac Parish, Nathanael Parish, Selah Parish, Luka DeLeon, Jack Anderson (B.A. & Law Student), Colette Anderson (B.A.), Samantha Anderson (B.A.), Yohan Anderson, Cameron Anderson, Lauren Anderson, Zachary Anderson; Nolan Dickman, Paul Dickman, Calvin Ellis, Emery Ellis, Adalind Ellis.
Spouses (and others) include Doris Anderson, Marcia Anderson, Evelyn Anderson, Larry Dickman, Scott Forrest, Otis Hopkins, Julie Anderson, Scott Lumsden, David Parish, Manuel DeLeon, Joan Anderson, Anna Anderson, Melissa Anderson, Sara Dickman, and Eric Ellis.
