Anchorage Daily News November 25, 2009
Doris Reine Ditus, 81, died Nov. 20, 2009, at her Anchorage home, surrounded by her family, after a valiant 14-year battle with cancer. A memorial service was at St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O'Malley Road, preceded by a visitation.
Doris was born Oct. 15, 1928, to George Raymond Aldhizer and Florence Brunton Aldhizer in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Va., in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Together, she and her Baptist family faced the challenges of the time, including the Great Depression, polio and the constraints of World War II. Doris graduated from Harrisonburg High School, received her R.N. degree from the Medical College of Virginia (presently Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond), and her Bachelor of Science degree in public health nursing from Alaska Methodist University (presently Alaska Pacific University). Doris served as a nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in the late 1950s. While stationed at Fort Lawton, Wash., she met the love of her life, Stan Ditus, an officer with the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps. Their love quickly blossomed in Seattle, and they were married in Harrisonburg on July 11, 1959. They made their first home and welcomed their daughter, Shelley, in Stan's hometown of Larned, Kan. This would be the beginning of Doris' lifelong commitment to her newfound passions of cattle, feedlots, livestock auctions and her husband's law practice. Doris never resisted the demands of tending cattle, cooking for the crew, or serving as a "juror" for opening and closing arguments prepared around the kitchen table. Oftentimes, Doris supplemented the income through her work as a hospital or clinical nurse, and always made time to serve as Brownie or 4-H leader, room parent and confidante. Doris first moved with her family to Anchorage in April 1964, shortly after the 1964 earthquake. Anchorage become an anchor throughout the years as they would move away to pursue cattle pleasures or warmer climes, and then return to Anchorage time and time again, finally, on July 4, 2009, to be near family in the final chapter of her well-lived life. Doris loved travel and adventure, and through the years she and her husband traversed the United States, Canada and Europe together, retiring as Nevadan snowbirds in 1999. Doris had many gifts, including those of empathy, laughter, friendliness and hospitality. She genuinely enjoyed exchanging greetings with everyone she met. She played the piano, cooked a delicious strawberry shortcake and loved music. Her greatest gift was serving as the consummate wife, mother, and grandmother to her grandchildren. She touched the future in many ways, most notably through the love and example she modeled to those who cherish her. Despite enduring over 14 years of major health issues, Doris never lost her grit, or her joy of living. She continued to press on without complaint, through surgeries -- two within the last year --chemotherapies, dialysis and, ultimately, immobility, which was one of the most difficult challenges, as Doris loved being ever on the go, never lacking in helpfulness, spunk and resilience. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Florence Aldhizer; her parents-in-law, Verner and Grace Ditus; and Andrew Lekisch.
Doris leaves behind to celebrate her life, but also to mourn her death, her beloved husband and kindred spirit of 50 far-too-quick years, R. Stanley "Stan" Ditus; her daughter and son-in-law, Shelley (Ditus) and David Biegel; granddaughters, Molly, Hannah Reine, Sophie and Nancy; and grandson, David "Davey" of Anchorage. She is also survived by her two brothers, George (Lo) Aldhizer and Jerry (Amy, Beth) Aldhizer of Virginia; her sister-in-law, Phyllis (Jon) Dawson of Anchorage; nephews, Jon (Cindy, Jenny, Christine) Dawson of Anchorage, and George (Lisa, George, Tom) Aldhizer of North Carolina; and nieces, Liz (John, Kate, Bridget, Jack) Sloat of Washington, Donyel (Jim, Jimmy, John, Lara) Niehues of California, and Carol (David, Alex, Andrew) Delia of New Jersey; and many friends. The family requests that in honor of Doris we all remember the joy of laughter. Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Home, Kehl's Chapel. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Doris Reine Ditus, 81, died Nov. 20, 2009, at her Anchorage home, surrounded by her family, after a valiant 14-year battle with cancer. A memorial service was at St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O'Malley Road, preceded by a visitation.
Doris was born Oct. 15, 1928, to George Raymond Aldhizer and Florence Brunton Aldhizer in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Va., in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Together, she and her Baptist family faced the challenges of the time, including the Great Depression, polio and the constraints of World War II. Doris graduated from Harrisonburg High School, received her R.N. degree from the Medical College of Virginia (presently Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond), and her Bachelor of Science degree in public health nursing from Alaska Methodist University (presently Alaska Pacific University). Doris served as a nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in the late 1950s. While stationed at Fort Lawton, Wash., she met the love of her life, Stan Ditus, an officer with the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps. Their love quickly blossomed in Seattle, and they were married in Harrisonburg on July 11, 1959. They made their first home and welcomed their daughter, Shelley, in Stan's hometown of Larned, Kan. This would be the beginning of Doris' lifelong commitment to her newfound passions of cattle, feedlots, livestock auctions and her husband's law practice. Doris never resisted the demands of tending cattle, cooking for the crew, or serving as a "juror" for opening and closing arguments prepared around the kitchen table. Oftentimes, Doris supplemented the income through her work as a hospital or clinical nurse, and always made time to serve as Brownie or 4-H leader, room parent and confidante. Doris first moved with her family to Anchorage in April 1964, shortly after the 1964 earthquake. Anchorage become an anchor throughout the years as they would move away to pursue cattle pleasures or warmer climes, and then return to Anchorage time and time again, finally, on July 4, 2009, to be near family in the final chapter of her well-lived life. Doris loved travel and adventure, and through the years she and her husband traversed the United States, Canada and Europe together, retiring as Nevadan snowbirds in 1999. Doris had many gifts, including those of empathy, laughter, friendliness and hospitality. She genuinely enjoyed exchanging greetings with everyone she met. She played the piano, cooked a delicious strawberry shortcake and loved music. Her greatest gift was serving as the consummate wife, mother, and grandmother to her grandchildren. She touched the future in many ways, most notably through the love and example she modeled to those who cherish her. Despite enduring over 14 years of major health issues, Doris never lost her grit, or her joy of living. She continued to press on without complaint, through surgeries -- two within the last year --chemotherapies, dialysis and, ultimately, immobility, which was one of the most difficult challenges, as Doris loved being ever on the go, never lacking in helpfulness, spunk and resilience. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Florence Aldhizer; her parents-in-law, Verner and Grace Ditus; and Andrew Lekisch.
Doris leaves behind to celebrate her life, but also to mourn her death, her beloved husband and kindred spirit of 50 far-too-quick years, R. Stanley "Stan" Ditus; her daughter and son-in-law, Shelley (Ditus) and David Biegel; granddaughters, Molly, Hannah Reine, Sophie and Nancy; and grandson, David "Davey" of Anchorage. She is also survived by her two brothers, George (Lo) Aldhizer and Jerry (Amy, Beth) Aldhizer of Virginia; her sister-in-law, Phyllis (Jon) Dawson of Anchorage; nephews, Jon (Cindy, Jenny, Christine) Dawson of Anchorage, and George (Lisa, George, Tom) Aldhizer of North Carolina; and nieces, Liz (John, Kate, Bridget, Jack) Sloat of Washington, Donyel (Jim, Jimmy, John, Lara) Niehues of California, and Carol (David, Alex, Andrew) Delia of New Jersey; and many friends. The family requests that in honor of Doris we all remember the joy of laughter. Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Home, Kehl's Chapel. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Anchorage Daily News November 25, 2009
Doris Reine Ditus, 81, died Nov. 20, 2009, at her Anchorage home, surrounded by her family, after a valiant 14-year battle with cancer. A memorial service was at St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O'Malley Road, preceded by a visitation.
Doris was born Oct. 15, 1928, to George Raymond Aldhizer and Florence Brunton Aldhizer in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Va., in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Together, she and her Baptist family faced the challenges of the time, including the Great Depression, polio and the constraints of World War II. Doris graduated from Harrisonburg High School, received her R.N. degree from the Medical College of Virginia (presently Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond), and her Bachelor of Science degree in public health nursing from Alaska Methodist University (presently Alaska Pacific University). Doris served as a nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in the late 1950s. While stationed at Fort Lawton, Wash., she met the love of her life, Stan Ditus, an officer with the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps. Their love quickly blossomed in Seattle, and they were married in Harrisonburg on July 11, 1959. They made their first home and welcomed their daughter, Shelley, in Stan's hometown of Larned, Kan. This would be the beginning of Doris' lifelong commitment to her newfound passions of cattle, feedlots, livestock auctions and her husband's law practice. Doris never resisted the demands of tending cattle, cooking for the crew, or serving as a "juror" for opening and closing arguments prepared around the kitchen table. Oftentimes, Doris supplemented the income through her work as a hospital or clinical nurse, and always made time to serve as Brownie or 4-H leader, room parent and confidante. Doris first moved with her family to Anchorage in April 1964, shortly after the 1964 earthquake. Anchorage become an anchor throughout the years as they would move away to pursue cattle pleasures or warmer climes, and then return to Anchorage time and time again, finally, on July 4, 2009, to be near family in the final chapter of her well-lived life. Doris loved travel and adventure, and through the years she and her husband traversed the United States, Canada and Europe together, retiring as Nevadan snowbirds in 1999. Doris had many gifts, including those of empathy, laughter, friendliness and hospitality. She genuinely enjoyed exchanging greetings with everyone she met. She played the piano, cooked a delicious strawberry shortcake and loved music. Her greatest gift was serving as the consummate wife, mother, and grandmother to her grandchildren. She touched the future in many ways, most notably through the love and example she modeled to those who cherish her. Despite enduring over 14 years of major health issues, Doris never lost her grit, or her joy of living. She continued to press on without complaint, through surgeries -- two within the last year --chemotherapies, dialysis and, ultimately, immobility, which was one of the most difficult challenges, as Doris loved being ever on the go, never lacking in helpfulness, spunk and resilience. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Florence Aldhizer; her parents-in-law, Verner and Grace Ditus; and Andrew Lekisch.
Doris leaves behind to celebrate her life, but also to mourn her death, her beloved husband and kindred spirit of 50 far-too-quick years, R. Stanley "Stan" Ditus; her daughter and son-in-law, Shelley (Ditus) and David Biegel; granddaughters, Molly, Hannah Reine, Sophie and Nancy; and grandson, David "Davey" of Anchorage. She is also survived by her two brothers, George (Lo) Aldhizer and Jerry (Amy, Beth) Aldhizer of Virginia; her sister-in-law, Phyllis (Jon) Dawson of Anchorage; nephews, Jon (Cindy, Jenny, Christine) Dawson of Anchorage, and George (Lisa, George, Tom) Aldhizer of North Carolina; and nieces, Liz (John, Kate, Bridget, Jack) Sloat of Washington, Donyel (Jim, Jimmy, John, Lara) Niehues of California, and Carol (David, Alex, Andrew) Delia of New Jersey; and many friends. The family requests that in honor of Doris we all remember the joy of laughter. Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Home, Kehl's Chapel. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Doris Reine Ditus, 81, died Nov. 20, 2009, at her Anchorage home, surrounded by her family, after a valiant 14-year battle with cancer. A memorial service was at St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O'Malley Road, preceded by a visitation.
Doris was born Oct. 15, 1928, to George Raymond Aldhizer and Florence Brunton Aldhizer in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Va., in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Together, she and her Baptist family faced the challenges of the time, including the Great Depression, polio and the constraints of World War II. Doris graduated from Harrisonburg High School, received her R.N. degree from the Medical College of Virginia (presently Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond), and her Bachelor of Science degree in public health nursing from Alaska Methodist University (presently Alaska Pacific University). Doris served as a nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in the late 1950s. While stationed at Fort Lawton, Wash., she met the love of her life, Stan Ditus, an officer with the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps. Their love quickly blossomed in Seattle, and they were married in Harrisonburg on July 11, 1959. They made their first home and welcomed their daughter, Shelley, in Stan's hometown of Larned, Kan. This would be the beginning of Doris' lifelong commitment to her newfound passions of cattle, feedlots, livestock auctions and her husband's law practice. Doris never resisted the demands of tending cattle, cooking for the crew, or serving as a "juror" for opening and closing arguments prepared around the kitchen table. Oftentimes, Doris supplemented the income through her work as a hospital or clinical nurse, and always made time to serve as Brownie or 4-H leader, room parent and confidante. Doris first moved with her family to Anchorage in April 1964, shortly after the 1964 earthquake. Anchorage become an anchor throughout the years as they would move away to pursue cattle pleasures or warmer climes, and then return to Anchorage time and time again, finally, on July 4, 2009, to be near family in the final chapter of her well-lived life. Doris loved travel and adventure, and through the years she and her husband traversed the United States, Canada and Europe together, retiring as Nevadan snowbirds in 1999. Doris had many gifts, including those of empathy, laughter, friendliness and hospitality. She genuinely enjoyed exchanging greetings with everyone she met. She played the piano, cooked a delicious strawberry shortcake and loved music. Her greatest gift was serving as the consummate wife, mother, and grandmother to her grandchildren. She touched the future in many ways, most notably through the love and example she modeled to those who cherish her. Despite enduring over 14 years of major health issues, Doris never lost her grit, or her joy of living. She continued to press on without complaint, through surgeries -- two within the last year --chemotherapies, dialysis and, ultimately, immobility, which was one of the most difficult challenges, as Doris loved being ever on the go, never lacking in helpfulness, spunk and resilience. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Florence Aldhizer; her parents-in-law, Verner and Grace Ditus; and Andrew Lekisch.
Doris leaves behind to celebrate her life, but also to mourn her death, her beloved husband and kindred spirit of 50 far-too-quick years, R. Stanley "Stan" Ditus; her daughter and son-in-law, Shelley (Ditus) and David Biegel; granddaughters, Molly, Hannah Reine, Sophie and Nancy; and grandson, David "Davey" of Anchorage. She is also survived by her two brothers, George (Lo) Aldhizer and Jerry (Amy, Beth) Aldhizer of Virginia; her sister-in-law, Phyllis (Jon) Dawson of Anchorage; nephews, Jon (Cindy, Jenny, Christine) Dawson of Anchorage, and George (Lisa, George, Tom) Aldhizer of North Carolina; and nieces, Liz (John, Kate, Bridget, Jack) Sloat of Washington, Donyel (Jim, Jimmy, John, Lara) Niehues of California, and Carol (David, Alex, Andrew) Delia of New Jersey; and many friends. The family requests that in honor of Doris we all remember the joy of laughter. Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Home, Kehl's Chapel. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
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