DOROTHY “DOT” RACHEL OTIS (LUKENS)

Dorothy Rachel Otis, 86, of Toledo, died Friday, November 12, 2021. She was born to Levi and Thelma Lukens in Waldo, Ohio, on January 2, 1935. She grew up on a dairy farm in Fayette, attended Heidelberg College and graduated from Bowling Green State University. For 30 years she was a first and second grade teacher in Tecumseh, Michigan; Hanau, Germany, and in Rossford.

She was married to James Otis for 34 years. They lived in Maumee, before moving to Ohio Living Swan Creek Retirement Village (which both said was one of the best decisions they ever made together). James preceded her in death, as did her brother, Richard Lukens (Marjorie).

Dorothy is survived by son, James H. Otis (Sarah); granddaughters, Claire Miller (Chris) and Amanda Otis (Jon Burzynski); niece, Karen Witte; sister-in-law, Marjorie Lukens; nephews, Matthew and Mark Lukens, and great-grandchildren, James and Helen Miller, and Kayden Burzynski.

Dorothy enjoyed traveling, music, theater, letter writing and doing things with family and friends.

She enjoyed volunteering at the Genacross Lutheran Services/Toledo Campus, and Genacross Lutheran/ Wolf Creek. She also volunteered for 15 years with Hospice of Northwest Ohio and at Ohio Living Swan Creek. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Maumee, where she served as an elder, deacon and longtime choir member. Dorothy was a lover of life. She was grateful for each day of life God gave her, and was thankful for family and friends who touched her life in many ways. She also appreciated and loved the four-footed canine friends who added much to the joy of living through the years.

Dorothy appreciated and supported several community organizations such as Maumee Valley Save-A-Pet, Schedel Gardens, Toledo Botanical Garden, Metroparks Toledo, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Zoo, the Toledo Community Foundation and WGTE Public Media.

Dorothy chose to be cremated. A gathering for family and friends will be from 3 to 8 p.m., on Friday, November 19, at the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant Street, Maumee. A memorial service celebrating Dorothy’s life will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, November 20, at the First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, 200 Broadway Street, Maumee. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to consider memorial gifts to the Life Care Fund at Ohio Living Swan Creek, 5916 Cresthaven Lane, Toledo, Ohio 43614; First Presbyterian Church, 200 East Broadway, Maumee, Ohio 43537; Maumee Valley Save-A-Pet, 5250 Hill Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43615, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences to the family may be made at walker funeralhomes.com.