Grant City, MO: Dorothy (Rowlett) Verbeeck, oldest child of Edith C. (Osmon) and James Lemual Rowlett was born on April 2, 1927. She married Robert Verbeeck in New York City, New York on December 28, 1973. They belonged to the St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Buena Park, California.
Dorothy was an elementary teacher from age 16 in a one room country school and later became a college assistant professor. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri. She was a teacher at Emporia State in Kansas and won a scholarship to Columbia University in New York City. Dorothy received her Master’s degree in early childhood studies. She later took her pre-doctoral tests to qualify for doctorate studies and made a 9 ¾ out of a possible 10. Dorothy completed half her doctorate before her husband was moved to the Los Angeles area in California. After moving to California, Dorothy was over qualified for any teaching job so she took a job as a credit manager for Yamaha and worked there until she retired.
Robert died a couple years after she retired. She then returned to the new home on the farm where she grew flowers and vegetables in their greenhouse.
Dorothy had broken her hip in a fall and had been in and out of the Worth County Convalescent Center in Grant City. On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 Dorothy passed away four days before her 95th birthday. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Robert. She is survived by her sister Faye Rowlett, brother Paul Rowlett, nephew James Cllifford Rowlett and companion Eddie of Ridgway. Dorothy has been cremated and burial will be at a later date. Arrangements are under direction of Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, Missouri.