Dorothy Gilman

Dorothy Gilman

"Dossie"

Dorothy "Dossie” (Dewey) Gilman died at home in RiverWoods, a retirement community in Exeter, NH, on January 17, 2015, aged 93.

She was born on November 6, 1921 in Worcester, MA, the daughter of F. Henshaw and Dorothy (Bowen) Dewey. She graduated from Miss Hall’s School and Smith College. Dossie was an officer in the WAVES from 1943 to 1946, serving in Washington, D.C., and Newport, RI.

Dossie married Robbins Paxson “Bob” Gilman of Minneapolis, MN in 1947. Bob joined the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer and they lived in Washington, D.C., and were posted to Switzerland, France, West Germany, and West Berlin between 1957 and 1971.

After Bob’s retirement in 1973 they moved to Exeter. They enjoyed volunteering with the Exeter Historical Society, where Dossie served as a trustee. Dossie was on the board of the Exeter League of Women Voters. She was a contributor to Exeter, New Hampshire, 1888-1988, by Nancy Merrill and helped to edit Bob’s book about Exeter’s Garrison House, The Old Logg House by the Bridge.

Bob died in 1984 in Exeter, NH. Dossie moved to RiverWoods in 1994, one of the first residents. She volunteered on the Dining and the Library Committees. After two broken hips, she moved to the Suncook Assisted Care Unit at The Ridge, at RiverWoods.

Along with her interest in local history, genealogy, politics, and world affairs, Dossie will be remembered for a bright wit and sense of humor, and her loyalty and devotion to family and friends.

Dossie was pre-deceased by her sister, Elizabeth Marangoni, and her brother, Francis H. “Chuck” Dewey III.

Dossie is survived by daughters Francie of Silver Spring, MD and Catherine of Tucson, AZ; son Nicholas of Montreal, Canada; son Chandler, daughter-in-law Lisa MacDowell, and granddaughter Thea MacDowell-Gilman of Danville, VT; brother Henry B. Dewey and his wife, Jane, of Worcester, MA; goddaughter Anne Dealy of Amenia, NY; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the Exeter Historical Society (P.O. Box 924, Exeter, NH 03833) or the Spencer Fund at RiverWoods, which supports RiverWoods employees who attend nursing school (7 RiverWoods Drive, Exeter, NH 03833).

Dossie Gilman's family invites friends to a remembrance gathering at The Ridge at RiverWoods, 8 White Oak Drive, Suncook Lodge, on Friday, January 30, from 4:00-5:00 PM.

Stockbridge Funeral Home invites you to post your entries of love and support for the family. All postings are monitored and any inappropriate posts will be immediately deleted. Thank you in advance for your respect for the family.

Remembrance Gathering -

Friday, January 30, 2015

4 - 5 pm

The Ridge at Riverwoods

Suncook Lodge

8 White Oak Drive

Exeter, New Hampshire 03833

Directions to Service

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