Florence Adel (LaValley) Dodge age 92 died gracefuly in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on September 23rd, 2010 after a full life. She was born in Cambridge in 1918 and grew up in Walpole after age 5, graduating from Walpole High in1935, as secretary of the class and goal tender of the undefeated field hockey. She played both piano and cello in many school activities. She was an active 4-H Member, often representing Norfolk County at the State College. She loved sports and music playing cello with a small group on a radio station, and for several years as a member of the Norwood/Norfolk County Symphony Orchestra and trios.
After attending a Norwood Business School, Florence was employed for eight years in the office of the Norfolk County Agricultural School in Walpole. She was the president of the Walpole Catholic Women’s Club and a member of the League of Catholic Women in Boston. In 1942 she married Ellison (Buzz) Dodge when he was in the 26th Yankee Division. At the end of WWII she was able to join him at Fort Benning in Georgia, where she worked in the Accounting Office of the Post Exchange. In 1945 she resigned from the NCAS as Sr. Accounting Clerk, and moved to Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton where Ellison was Superintendant of Grounds. Florence was a devoted wife and mother, with four children and volunteered at many MHS activities. They moved to their home on Reynolds Street in 1960.
Florence began work in 1961 at the Mass. Hospital School in Canton in the Medical Records Office and then as the Hospital Admitting Officer until retirement in 1979.
With one handicapped son who attended St. Coletta School (now The Cardinal Cushing School) in Hanover, she became President of their Guild and served on its Board of Directors for many years. She served as President of the South Norfolk County Association for Retarded Citizens and as Secretary of the Area Board for Mental Health and Mental Health Retardation. She was a Campfire leader and active with her boys in Boy Scouts. As a devoted member of St. John’s Church in Canton and she has been Chairman of their altar guild and a board member of the Canton Women’s Club.
Beloved wife of the late Ellison Dwight Dodge, she was a loving mother of Ronald now in WI, Patricia (Frank Bruce) of WI, Gregory W. (Jeannie Clemons) of Billerica, and Albert (Claire Wade) of Sydney, Australia. She is survived by six grand children: Jennifer McCarthy, Dr. Gregory R. Dodge, Beth Raynard, Ellison Bruce, Frank Bruce and Deborah Collett; also survived by five great granddaughters and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Alfred LaValley. Funeral from the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home 455 Washington St. Canton Friday morning at 10, followed by a funeral mass at St. John the Evangelist Church Canton at 11. Visiting hours at the funeral home Thursday from 6:00 to – 8:00 pm. Interment St. Mary’s Cemetery, Canton . Donations may be made in her memory to the St. John’s School Association 700 Washington St. Canton, MA 02021 or Interfaith Older Adult Programs, Inc., Neighborhood Outreach Program, 600 W. Virginia St. Suite 300, Milwaukee, WI 53204