Dorothy D. Wittlinger, 91, of Lenexa, KS passed away peacefully and went home to the Lord on Thursday, May 7, 2020.
Dorothy was born Dorothy Dean Santus on August 12, 1928 in Marceline, MO. She grew up in Marceline and graduated from Marceline High School in 1946. After attending Chillicothe Business College, she briefly worked in Kansas City before moving to Los Angeles, CA in Aug. 1951. Once there, she worked as a secretary at Universal Studios in Hollywood for a number of years. While at a pool party on July 4, 1952 she met a coworker who built sets for movies named Ray Wittlinger. They would go on a date that night and later marry on Nov. 28, 1953. Dorothy and Ray later moved to the Kansas City area and raised their three children: Rick, Mary, and Mark.
Dorothy devoted her life to taking care of her family and persevered as the strongest woman we know after losing her husband, son, and daughter at early ages. Every single day she was the most loving and caring grandmother to Crystal, Ray and Jackie. She was the most kind and optimistic person every day of her life.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her mother and father, Joseph and Mary Santus; her loving husband of 22 years, Ray Wittlinger; her children, Rick Wittlinger and Mary Wittlinger; her sister, Norma Hawkins and brother-in-law Howard Hawkins. She will be greatly missed by her son, Mark Wittlinger; grandchildren: Crystal Wittlinger and her companion K.C. Hilgenkamp, Ray Wittlinger, and Jackie Wittlinger; their mother Linda Bergant; nieces and nephews: Jeff Hawkins, Pam Romine and her husband Harry, Jenny Moore and her husband Chris, and Bobby Hawkins and his wife Stacy.
Graveside services for family and friends will be held at 10:30am Wednesday, May 13 at Resurrection Cemetery, 8300 Quivira Road, Lenexa, KS 66215. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Olathe Hospice House Charitable Foundation.