Obituary: Skindlov, Dorothy Grace
Age 93
She had an especially wonderful childhood where her parents instilled their Christian values of kindness, compassion, and joy to their children.
When Dorothy was three, her parents and older siblings moved to the Los Angeles suburb of Eagle Rock.
Throughout her life, she was always eager to learn, even in her later years.
She graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1937, and then for the next two years, attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where she made many lifelong friends.
Transferring to UCLA, she graduated with a major in Home Economics and minored in English and Art.
In 1941, she married Robert (Bob) Skindlov and moved to Spokane.
They were married for 69 years until Bob’s death in 2000.
Dorothy possessed a love of nature, especially for the magnificent pine trees, which surrounded each place they lived in Spokane.
She stayed at home to raise their two children and was always involved in their many activities.
Dorothy, later, went back to school and earned her teaching degree from Eastern Washington College of Education.
Her first job in District 81 was in Home Economics.
She later switched to Elementary Education where she especially enjoyed her many years as a second grade teacher at Hutton Elementary.
Dorothy, “Dot”, was a classy lady known for her special gift of entertaining, hosting many gatherings for family and friends.
She was a correspondent “extraordinaire” and could express her thoughts and feelings beautifully in cards and letters to the many people in her life over the years.
She also had a great interest in family history, collecting historical information and pictures about the Skindlov family that will be treasured for generations to come.
For 70 years she was a member of Central Lutheran Church where she and Bob were “official greeters”, always making strangers feel welcome.
For those of you who had the privilege of knowing Dorothy, you knew what a beautiful, giving, spirit-filled woman she was.
She had a genuine interest in others, making you feel special whenever you were around her.
The pride and joy of Dorothy’s life was her family, and she had such love for each one of them.
She is survived by her son, James (Helen) Skindlov; her daughter, Christine (Wayne) Henning; her four grandchildren, Steven (Heidi) Henning, Joel (Melissa) Skindlov, Elizabeth (Ryan) Luiten, and Anne (Damian) Putney; and ten great-grandchildren.
Dorothy passed on February 22, 2013, at Rockwood South Hill.
She lived a full life and will be missed by her family and many friends.
A celebration of her life will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, April 6, 2013, at Central Lutheran Church, 512 S. Bernard St., Spokane, WA.
Memorials may be made to Central Lutheran, Rockwood Residents Foundation, Meals on Wheels, or Union Gospel Mission.