Dorothy Frances Worstell

Dorothy Frances Howard Worstell, age 97, and a lifelong resident of Collinsville, Oklahoma, died peacefully August 10, 2014, in her home in Collinsville. Dorothy, born February 9, 1917, in a house on Spring Street in Collinsville, was the first of five children born to Charles Ward and Verna Alexander Howard.

She graduated from Collinsville High School in 1934 then attended the Oklahoma School of Business in Tulsa, graduating with an Associates Degree.

Dorothy first met Earl M. Worstell when they were pre-school children and their mothers knew each other in the Methodist Church. They started dating when they were seniors in high school and were married October 10, 1936, in Collinsville at the home of her grandparents, J. W. and Laura Alexander. They were married 63 years before Earl’s death August 10, 1999.

The family lived for a short time on a dairy farm south of Collinsville. In 1942 they settled into a two-story home at 1607 West Oak Street, where they raised four children. Dorothy was a gracious hostess, and the Worstell home was a favorite venue for parties, meetings, family gatherings, holiday events, weddings, and wedding receptions.

Dorothy became avidly involved in the community. She was a member of Chapter X, P.E.O., and a founding member of the Home Representatives Club. The family attended the Community Church where her family had been founding members in 1930. She sang in the choir alongside her husband, and was a faithful member of the weekly quilter’s group and the women’s circle.

Dorothy was an accomplished and talented seamstress. She also enjoyed oil painting, textile painting, and ceramics. She was an excellent gardener, and her green thumb extended to houseplants, African violets in particular, which she grew with abandon.
Always the competitor, she was a good bridge player. She especially enjoyed the weekly family gatherings to play Mexican Train dominoes, a game she often won.

Dorothy is survived by her children Carol Christopher (Jim), Tulsa, Earl M. Worstell, Jr. (Donna), Sugar Land, Texas, and Michael H. Worstell (Susan), Collinsville; nine grandchildren, Jon Christopher, Grove, Oklahoma, Steven Christopher, Hong Kong, and Cynthia Christopher, Denver; Christi Worstell, Denver, Matthew Worstell, Dallas, and Bonnie and David Worstell, Sugar Land; Jessica Baker, Owasso, and Amanda Gillam, Nixa, Missouri; two great-granddaughters and three great-grandsons; and two sisters, Lynn Webber, Severna Park, Maryland, and Donna Steigerwald, Vero Beach, Florida.
Her husband, Earl M. Worstell; daughter, Frances Downing; and two brothers, Leslie Howard and Glenn Howard, predeceased her.

The family thanks St. Johns Hospice and Visiting Angels for their loving care of Dorothy these past few weeks.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Collinsville Community Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 182, Collinsville, OK 74021, or a charity of your choice.

A celebration of Dorothy’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m., September 6, at the Collinsville Community Church, 14th and Oak, under the direction of the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home. Memories may be shared at www.collinsvillefh.com.