Dorothy Churchman

Dorothy Lenore Churchman, one of four children of Woodie Marion and Nancy Rosetta (McFarland) Vestal, was born on February 12, 1905 on her parent's farm near Strahan, IA. Dorothy attended Fairview Rural School and graduated from the Strahan Consolidated School in 1923. She attended Cedar Falls Teachers College and taught at Strahan and later at schools in Fremont and Mills County. On June 15, 1930, Dorothy and Joseph Arthur Churchman were married at her parent's home in Strahan. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Lowell Duane and David Elwood. Art farmed and Dorothy took care of the boys and home plus helped with the chores and caring for the animals and chickens. They lived in the Iowa communities of Strahan, Malvern, Randolph, Farragut and Elliot before returning to Malvern in 1956. Art farmed until 1945 and then did carpenter work until his retirement. Dorothy resumed teaching again in 1941 and taught in Malvern, Elliott, Nishna Valley and Council Bluffs until her retirement in 1970. In 1961, she was nominated for the Rural Teacher of the Year Award. Dorothy's family, church, teaching, and community work were foremost in her life. She was always ac...[more]

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e in the United Methodist Church. She first joined at Strahan where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. While in Farragut, she worked with church youth groups and was counselor for the summer camping programs. In Malvern, she was a member of the United Methodist Women, Martha Circle and served on the Administrative Council and Mission Board. Her community work included serving as president of the Malvern Senior Citizens, secretary of Mills County Committee on Aging, and was senior advocate for the Southwest Eight Council. She was honored to receive the U.S. House of Representatives Award, the Governor's Volunteer Award, and the Malvern Citizenship of the Year Award. Art and Dorothy had been married 69 years at the time of Art's death on Oct. 21, 1999. Dorothy remained in their Malvern home until her health caused her to move to the Risen Son Christian Village in Council Bluffs, IA in 2001. In August of 2003, Dorothy moved to the Afton, Iowa Care Center where she died on July 23, 2004 at the age of 99 years, 5 months, and 11 days. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Arthur, son David Churchman, brothers Franklin Vestal, Clifford Vestal and twin brother Donald Vestal. She is survived by her son Duane and his wife Darlene of Osceola, IA; daughter-in-law Marlene Churchman of Denver, CO; eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.