On Jan. 5, 2021, Dortha “Dot” E. Ryan passed away peacefully at home and was welcomed into heaven by God.
Dortha was 97 years young, born June 13, 1923, in Michigan City, Ind., to Alfred and Almeda Oster.
Dot, known to many, was always talking, smiling and enjoying life. Throughout her life Dot touched many lives and worked for many local La Porte, Ind., retailers, Levine’s, Harvey’s, and JC Penney to name a few. In 1985, she retired from Bernel Foam. She was a member of La Porte Missionary Church, VFW and the La Porte YMCA. Most La Porteans knew Dot’s smiling face and enthusiasm from her endless hours of volunteering at the YMCA. If you were up before dawn, then Dot welcomed you at the “Y” as she opened up at 4 a.m. with “shot of dot.” The YMCA Board of Directors created a Volunteer of the Year Award named after Dortha Ryan and her countless hours and years of volunteer service to the community.
Dortha loved her girls and big family, church, dancing and music. She enjoyed her summer Thursday nights at Arts in The Park, Sunday church services, and countless hours of family times and events. She is the matriarch of the large family and will be missed by us all more than words can express.
On July 3, 1954, in La Porte, she married James “Jim” Ernest Ryan, who preceded her in death on Oct. 12, 1994.
Dortha is survived by her 5 daughters, Valerie M. Blind, Glenna M. Ott, Sheila E. (Carl) Galloway, Joyce L. (Dave) Harshman, and Tammi L. (Rob) Merrill, all of La Porte; 13 grandchildren, Cheri (Jim) Stahl, Diana (Rob) Kuehl, Jeff (Lana) Hough, Shelli Leal, Tim (Johnna) Ott, Amy (Kent) Lutterman, Steven (Katie) Galloway, Lisa (Tedd) Bradford, Monica (Lavon) Oke, Jody Ryan, Robbie Merrill, Jennifer Merrill, and Jeremy Merrill; 28 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Charles Oster, Clara Satoski, Thelma Matthewson and Karl Kirk; and sons-in-law, Terry Ott and John Blind.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 9, at La Porte Missionary Church. Pastors Carl Galloway and Steve Galloway will officiate. Burial will follow at Patton Cemetery, La Porte. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the service Saturday at the church.
Due to the recent governor’s order, anyone attending the visitation and/or service is required to wear a mask and practice social distancing of six feet.
Memorial donations may be made to La Porte Missionary Church – Building Fund, 104 E. 18th St., La Porte, Ind. 46350, or the donor’s choice.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.