Dorothy Jane (Foreman) Simonds passed away, surrounded by her loving family, on April 8, 2015, at the age of 94.

She was predeceased by her husband Adelbert “Jiggs” Simonds; sisters, Mildred Amberger and Betty Collins; and grandson Jonathan Grosshart.

She is survived by her children: Deborah Burns Farnham (John), Melinda Simonds (Gwen Longbotham) and Dan Simonds (Tobie); her brother, James L. Foreman; grandchildren: Mark Burns, Todd Burns, Matthew Grosshart and Avery Simonds and many loving great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

Born on Feb. 2, 1921, in Columbus, she was the third of four children who were raised by their devoted, widowed father and a close extended family. After graduating from South High School and Capital University Business School she had a career as a secretary, first to the VP of The Union department store, then for the supply officer at the Naval Air Facility at Port Columbus and retired from Xerox after 30 years as the secretary to the VP of Human Resources.

During the war, Dorothy, her sister Betty and their two best friends, on weekends, sang at the USO accompanied by an orchestra. It was there that she met the love of her life, Jiggs. He asked me to dance and, “I just knew he was the one.” They married on July 16, 1945, and spent 46 wonderful years together until his death in 1991.

She loved the sound of work happening and was happiest when busy taking care of their 80-acre family farm in southern Ohio on weekends, working in her beautiful garden in Columbus or helping a neighbor or family member in need. She was an avid reader and loved decorating her home. She was so conscious of nature, especially the sky. Her children would receive regular phone calls alerting them to a beautiful sunset, a rainbow, an amazing cloud formation or a lovely night sky.

She loved to tell zany stories about herself and she kept her wonderful sense of humor until the very end. She was most proud of her volunteer work, first with church and school as she raised her young family and then with The Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare where she worked on the Remembered Patients Program and special events held for the patients. She received the President’s Call To Service Award from President Obama for her 28 years of volunteer service. Dorothy lived her life with grace, dignity and caring for others.

A Service of Remembrance was held on April 13, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dorothy’s name to The Volunteer Service Council of Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare, 2200 West Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43223. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to send messages of support to the family.