Dorothy J. Thwaits

Dorothy J. Thwaits, 79, of Bristol, Ind., and Sarasota, Fla., passed away May 3, 2013 at Sprenger Healthcare Center, Mishawaka.

She was born July 26, 1933 in Arlington, Ohio to Clair A. and Connie E. (Clum) Leiber. She married Donald Jones in 1952. He preceded in death in 1954. She then married John Nicholson in 1956 and later divorced. She married Bill Helm who preceded in death in 1992 and then married Dale R. Thwaits on Nov. 28, 1992. Her husband Dale survives of Bristol and her children, Karen (George) Bake of Osceola, IN, Cindy (Carl) Gutzman of Vermillion, SD, and James (Amy) Nicholson of Monroe, WI; Step-daughter, Karen (Jeff) Smaka of Bristol; 6 grandchildren, Jenny (Dusty), George III, Monica (Raleigh), Tyler, Samuel, and Luke; 2 great-grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren, Todd, Ryan and Kari; 4 step-great-grandchildren; Sister, Beatrice (Ned) Parcell of Elkhart, IN and a brother, Robert (Sandy) Leiber of Eldorado Hills, CA. 3 grandsons preceded in death, Mathew T., Timothy W. and Peter J. Gutzman.

Dorothy was a homemaker and retired from E.R. Carpenter Co. in production after 6 years. She also was a waitress for J.C. Penny’s and the Cottage Inn. She enjoyed her grandchildren, and playing bridge and pinochle.

Visitation will be from 3-7 pm Monday at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart where services will be held at 10 am Tuesday. Pastor Chuck Lynch will officiate. Graveside services will be at 1 pm Wednesday at Thompson Cemetery, Hancock Co. Ohio with Pastor Dave Harper officiating.

Memorials are preferred to American Cancer Society or American Diabetes Association. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.