Dorothy Grace Mendenhall Doan

Dorothy Grace Mendenhall Doan, 87, of Ercildoun, wife of Earl A. Doan Jr., passed away on January 17, 2017 at her home surrounded by her family.

Dorothy was born on July 24, 1929 on the family farm on Gable Road in West Brandywine Township.  She was the daughter of the late George Washington Mendenhall and Grace Anna Arters Mendenhall.  She resided in Chester County her entire life.

She was preceded in death by three brothers; George W. Jr., Harold T. Sr., and Robert E. Mendenhall and by three sisters; Sarah Hess, Elizabeth Osborne and Mary Alice Bender, and by her daughter Judith Ann Doan.

Dorothy is survived by her husband Earl A. Doan, Jr. of Ercildoun with whom she was preparing to celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary on January 26th.  She is also survived by two brothers; Allen Mendenhall, husband to Mary Gregor Mendenhall of Honey Brook and Paul E. Mendenhall, Sr. of Parkesburg; her son Randy E. Doan, Sr., husband of Bridget Montoro Doan of Towerville and her daughter Lisa Grace Doan - Harley, wife of Robert G. Harley, Sr. of Ercildoun.

She is survived by six grandchildren, Msgr. Robert Harley Jr., of Fayettville, N.C., Lt. Col. Thomas Harley of Las Vegas, NV, Patricia Doan Yoder of East Fallowfield, Petty Officer Earl A. Doan, III of Gulfport, MS, currently serving in Djibouti, Randy E. Doan, Jr. of Lancaster and Evan Scheuer of Narvon; nine great-grandchildren, Timothy, Mathew and Robert Harley III, of Lancaster, Cora and Lana Yoder of East Fallowfield, Kyle T. Doan, of Gulfport, MS and Marilaura, Ayden and Cadence Harley of Fayetteville, NC, and Buddy and Kitty beloved pets at home.  

Dorothy was a life long member of the Parkesburg United Methodist Church.  She enjoyed crocheting, canning, gardening and traveling -- despite a great fear of flying.  She worked for a time in her early life as a telephone switchboard operator for Bell Telephone (AT&T) and a nurse's aide at the Coatesville Hospital in the maternity and children's wards.  She served as a chairperson for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Her main vocation was that of wife, homemaker and mother -- a job in which she excelled.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 21st at 11 AM at Wilde Funeral Home, 434 Main St., Parkesburg with a viewing from 10 AM until the time of service.  Interment will be private.

Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com