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- CROSSVILLE, Tenn. - Dolores (Dolly) Lamm Derstine was born on March 20, 1935 in Stouchburg, PA to Daniel and Virgie Staudt Lamm. She graduated from Perry Township High School, Shoemakersville, PA. In 1952, she met William Derstine while both were campers at Camp Mensch Mill. During their courtship, she attended Ursinus College where she graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Math. During the summers they worked on staff at Camp Fernbrook; they were married in 1957.
Following their marriage and graduation, Dolly began teaching until 1959 when Bill completed seminary and they started their family, which includes three sons, Matthew, Mark and Timothy. Bill's ministry took them to Lemasters, PA and Penns Creek, PA. She resumed her teaching career when Bill returned to seminary at Crozer Seminary. Her greatest determination in life was to provide the support and resources for her sons to receive a college education.
After a move to Wichita, KS, Dolly enrolled in graduate school, receiving two Master's degrees, first in Gifted Education then in Social Work. She began her second career in social work as a family systems therapist while in Wichita and continued after moving to Orland Park, IL.
Bill and Dolly began their retirement in 1998 and moved to Pleasant Hill, TN in 2001. Soon after her arrival, she began a relationship with the Avalon Center in Crossville, TN where she served on the Board of Directors as chair of the Personnel Committee, Board President and Past President. Her systems skills were sought for strengthening the Avalon Center programs and operations that provide care for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
In her retirement, Dolly's latent talent as an artist emerged. She discovered a love of water color painting. These paintings are proudly displayed in her home and were recently exhibited in the community.
After an extended battle with multiple myeloma, a form of cancer, Dolly passed away on December 28, 2009 with family members by her side. She is survived by Bill, her husband of 52 years; her son Matt and his wife Kathy of Los Gatos, CA; her son Mark, his wife Barbara and grandsons, Adam and Andrew of Bristow, VA; her son Tim, his wife Susan and grandchildren, Seth, Natalie, Abbey, Joel, and Jonathan of Chatham, IL; and her sister Dorothea (Dotty) Kreisinger and her husband Bob of Sandwich, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Avalon Center or the Pleasant Hill Community Church Building Fund.
Published in The State Journal-Register on 1/8/2010
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1935 - 2009 (74 years)
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