Dorothy Louise Martin Putney

November 20, 2018

Dorothy Louise Martin Putney, 93, formerly of West Point and Saluda, VA, passed away on Monday, Nov. 20th at Chippenham Hospital, in Richmond, VA. She was born in Richmond, VA to Irvin Leo Martin and Effie Delia Walker and was the eldest of two children. She leaves behind two children, Dorothy P. Williams, (Gary) of Midlothian, VA and Meriwether V. Putney, Jr. (Melinda) of Urbanna, VA; six grandchildren, Dr. Gary D. Williams, Jr. (Brittany), of Glen Allen, VA, Michael D. Williams, (Madison), of Powhatan, VA, Mark V. Williams of Richmond, VA, Casey N. Putney of Manassas, VA and Brandon S. Putney (Gina) of Wake, VA; two great-grandchildren, Iris Caroline Williams and Jack Landa Williams of Powhatan, VA. She is survived by one cousin, Edward Walker of Boston, MA (Sue), and the late Lacey Putney, of Bedford, VA, (Camela); three sisters-in-law, Joyce Putney of Alachua, FL, Elizabeth Allen (Betsy) Putney of Woodland Hills, CA and Gladys Graham of Powhatan, VA; her late sisters-in law, Anne Flory of Woodbridge, VA, Nell Casteen of Deep Creek, VA, Myrtle Putney, of Farmville, VA and Grace Putney, of Farmville, VA; late brothers-in law, Waverly Putney, of Farmville, VA, Dr. Will Putney, of Woodland Hills, CA, Dr. Blake Putney, of Charleston, SC, Julian Putney of Gainesville, FL, Dr. William E. S. Flory, of Woodbridge, VA, Joseph C. Woodie of Mechanicsville, VA; and one sister, the late MaryAnne Woodie of Mechanicsville. Her nieces and nephews grew up with her own children attending family get togethers, and always spending Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and summers together. Lee Putney Pemberton, Lucie Putney Zehner, Samuel Putney, William Putney, James Putney, Bill Putney, Blake Putney, Jr., Thomas Putney, Dr. Barbara Hildreth, Dr. Anne Lund, the late Carolyn Casteen White, (Leigh Anne White Wauford), the late Anne Randolph Flory Naedle, William Flory, Debbie Buckley, Denise Wasieslewki, J.T. Putney, Jr., Lloyd Putney, the late J.C. Woodie, Jr. and the late James Terrill Putney. The daughter of Irish and Scotch immigrants, Dorothy (Dot) was born in Richmond, VA but spent her childhood years in West Point, VA, a town she dearly loved. She always referred to West Point as a little city, with sidewalks, street lamps and shops. She loved to tell stories of her life during the Depression Years and World War II drawn from personal experiences in this tiny mill town surrounded by triple rivers, the Mattaponi, Pamunkey and York. She excelled academically at West Point High School as Editor-in Chief of “The Point”, V.P. of Beta Club, Captain of Physical Education and voted “Best Looking” and “Most Popular” in her senior class, as well as belonging to various other clubs and organizations. In the Fall of 1943, she was accepted into the University of Virginia as a pre-med student, due to her love of mathematics and the sciences. In the summer, during her college years, she worked for Lucky Strike Tobacco Co. in Richmond, (Fulton), and lived with her grandparents in Chimborazo Park. She was a member of the German Club in college and met her future husband while in her sophomore year. Graduating in 1947, she taught chemistry for two years in Wakefield, VA then married Meriwether V. Putney, Sr. of Farmville, VA In 1949. They were married for 49 years until his death in 1999. She continued teaching but now in New Kent County, at New Kent High School, (chemistry), commuting daily from Richmond. In 1952, after the birth of her daughter, she retired from education for 18 years to raise her two children. Dot, now living in Saluda, enjoyed gardening, playing cards, was VP of the P.T.A. and traveled nationally with her husband to conventions to support his building company as well as on family vacations. In 1970, she returned to teaching at Middlesex High School as English Dept. Chair. “Many children benefitted from her calm and loving guidance”, Betty Anderson Woodard, team partner and Middlesex Co. resident recalled. Her favorite expression “quick like a bunny”, is still remembered by her students. She enjoyed teaching and working with children immensely, a true calling. Retirement brought years of travel, both nationally and internationally, with her daughter and family, the joys of watching her grandchildren grow up, their achievements, the birth of her two great-grandchildren, an active membership in the W.P. Historical Society and volunteer work at her beloved church in King William Co. A yearly visit to the Miller & Rhoads “Santa”, with her children and grandchildren, trips to Broad St. in Richmond, to shop at Thalhimers and M&R, with lunch in the tea room, listening to Eddie Weaver, weekends in New York and summer picnics and vacations on the Rappahannock River, were several of her fondest memories. She loved Hawaii and celebrated her 80th and 83rd birthdays in Honolulu, Hawaii and her 85th in Anchorage, Alaska. She was honored in Beijing, China in 2007, for being the eldest in her travel group, and gifted with a cloisonné bracelet by EF Education, a Swedish company, that she enjoyed traveling with worldwide. A graveside service, led by her daughter, husband and their three children, was held on Sunday, Nov. 25th, in West Point, VA and final resting was beside her parents, sister, her husband and their son. A “Celebration of Life” will be held, per her request, at Brett-Reed Memorial Presbyterian Church, in Sweet Hall, VA, in the spring. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, National Center, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX, 75231, 1-800-242-8721.