Dorothy (Dowling) Perron 90 of Franklin died January 14 in Milford Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Russell Perron who died in 1994.
Born in Norfolk, March 22, 1916 the daughter of the late John A. and Helene (Siebeneicher) Dowling, Mrs. Perron had been a resident of Franklin since 1919.
She attended local schools, graduating from Franklin High School (Davis Thayer School) in 1934. She graduated from Framingham State College and later continued her education at Boston University.
Her first teaching position was in Cavendish, Vermont where she taught first and second grade, plus art and music to grades one through eight. She later taught “sense training” at Wrentham State School. Her longest and most notable (23 years) teaching assignment was at the historical Brick School in Franklin.
For the first few years the school housed first and second grades. When the enrollment reached “forty” pupils, Grade II was moved to the Parmenter School and Grade 1 continued to be housed there until Mrs. Perron retired in 1973. It is now part of the Town of Franklin Kindergarten system.
She served as President of the Franklin Teacher’s Association, was a member of the Massachusetts Retired Teacher’s Association and the Retired State and Municipal Employees Association. She was also a member of the Framingham Alumni Association.
Photography was a hobby she shared with her husband as a member as past President of the StonyBrook Camera Club in Norfolk. She was a member of the Yankee Photograph Society and the Photographic Society of America. She exhibited slides in the PSA International Salons, earning a five star rating in the Nature division and a four star rating in the Color Slide Division.
Mrs.Perron was a lifelong member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Over the years she served in many activities of the Church, on the Vestry, as organist and choir director, Sunday School Teacher and as an active member of the Women’s Group.
She is survived by her daughters Ruth Bova of Uxbridge, Priscilla DeBaggis of Franklin and Eleanor Sawyer of Glocester, RI.
She was the sister of the late John, George and Annie Dowling, Ruth McCarthy and Lillian Bent.
She is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Her funeral service will be held on Thursday January 18 in St. John’s Church at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will be in Union Street Cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. in the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 131 Main St. in Franklin.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Make A Wish Foundation 100 Charendon Ave. Suite 2200 Phoenix AZ 85013 or St. John’s Church Memorial Fund 237 Pleasant St., Franklin, MA 02038.