Dorothy Whiting Smith, 98, died at the Mystic Manor Rehabilitation Center, on October 10.
She was born in Old Mystic on September 16, 1904, the daughter of Lewis Herbert Whiting and Mary (Baxter) Whiting.
She Married Lester Lawrence Smith on November 28, 1927. He died on January 19, 1960.
Mrs. Smith was a graduate of Stonington High School and Willimantic State Teachers College. After graduating form high school, she attended the Yale Summer School for Teachers. She began her career in education at the age of seventeen by teaching in a one-room school in Ledyard. She then taught at Noank School, the former Fitch Junior High School and Cutler Junior High School. She retired in 1962.
Mrs. Smith was a member of the Noank Baptist Church and until recently was an active member of its Corner Closet Group. During World War II she was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Harrison Morton Ward American Legion Post in Noank. Mrs. Smith had been a member of the Rebekah Lodge No. 56 for seventy-seven years. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the Noank Historical Society.
Once she learned to drive a car at the age of twelve, she began her lifelong pastime of traveling. She was happiest when she was “on the road.” Mrs. Smith traveled extensively, and she had been to every continent, except South America and Anarctica.
She is survived by a daughter Betty Ann Tylaska and her husband Theodore Tylaska of Old Mystic; and two grandsons, Theodore Tylaska III of old Mystic and Timothy Tylaska and his wife Laurie of Ledyard.
Dorothy was able to live in her own home until shortly before her 98th birthday due to the loving care of her devoted caretakers
She maintained a keen interest in people all her life, and as a result, she had friends that included grandchildren of some of her former pupils. She will be remembered as a devoted mother and grandmother, a true friend to may and as an excellent teacher.
A Funeral service will be held at the Noank Baptist Church on Tuesday at 11:00. Burial will be at Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic.
Her family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Monday from 5 - 7pm.