Dorothy M. Rodkey, 101

Dorothy Mae Howard, born June 30, 1923, in Spokane, was welcomed into her Savior’s arms July 10, 2024. 

Raised in Caldwell, Idaho, Dorothy was active, adventurous, competitive and inquisitive. She graduated from Whitman College, where she met the love of her life, George Rodkey. Following him to medical school in Detroit, Dorothy earned her master’s in chemistry and was invited into the world’s first class of 12 female medical lab technologists at Henry Ford Hospital. George and Dorothy started their 78 years of married life in 1945 and were inseparable until his death in 2022. They were well-matched in their sense of humor, their faith and their kindness to others. 

They lived in Seattle, San Diego, Booneville (Arkansas), Spokane, Post Falls and Hayden. In Spokane, Dorothy poured her life into raising her children, participating in church, choir and her kids’ school activities, and nurturing deep friendships with neighbors. As her children grew older, she employed her lab skills at Edgecliff Hospital. 

She loved traveling: visiting Mexico on a missionary trip and venturing on a 10-day family canoe trip into the wilds of British Columbia, and numerous road trips. Always sensitive to marginalized and burdened people, she added the local Hmong community to her Russian, German and Dutch friends. In 1990, she and George provided medical services to Hmong “boat people” in Malaysia. 

Dorothy put her faith in Jesus Christ at an encounter with Christ at a 1951 Seattle Billy Graham Crusade. Her deep personal faith guided how she treated others with care and love. 

Dorothy is survived by her six children: Chris Shaver, George Rodkey, Diane Gadbaugh, John Rodkey, Grant Rodkey and Mark Rodkey; 18 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Dorothy's celebration of life will be held Sept. 7, 2024, at 4 p.m., at Valley Bible Church, 3021 S. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley, Wash. 

If you would like to make a memorial gift in Dorothy's honor, please consider the Spokane Union Gospel Mission and Gideons International.

Visit Dorothy's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.