Dorothy L. Dilling

February 19, 1922 - December 20, 2016

Dorothy was born on February 19, 1922 in Dallas, Texas. She passed away peacefully on December 20, 2016, at the age of 94. She was adopted by Austin and Mae Pierson in Dallas and moved to Mexico shortly thereafter when a large number of Americans chose to work in the oil industry there. Dorothy grew up completely bilingual and bicultural. While living in Mexico, she met and married her first husband, Enrique Morfin Figueroa, with whom she had two children, Maria and Peter. Her parents had returned to Texas during this time. When her marriage became untenable, she decided to come to the United States with her children in 1954 and went to live with her parents, Austin and Mae, in San Antonio, Texas. Her husband, Enrique, passed away in 1955. She married her second husband, George L. Dilling in 1956, with whom she had three children, George, Kenneth, and Victoria. Being an Air Force family, we lived in Southern California, Florida, and Colorado before coming to Beale Air Force Base in 1960. Dorothy was a Yuba-Sutter resident for 56 years. She was always thinking of ways to earn money, by having a newspaper route, taking in ironing or waitressing. In the 1970's, she attended Yuba College during the day, and worked at the Marysville Detox at night. She accomplished her Human Services degree and began working at the Pathways DUI program in 1975 and worked there until her retirement in 2012 at the age of 89. During the 37 years she worked at Pathways, she touched the hearts of untold numbers of people during a hard time in their lives, as well as the hearts of her co-workers. Her Spanish-speaking clients affectionately referred to her as "Dona Doro." It was the rare time that she would go around town and not be greeted by somebody who had been in her classes at work. She loved music, dancing, and naughty jokes. Her health became problematic after her retirement and she eventually went to live at Emerald Oaks Assisted Living Center. The staff there took excellent care of her until she passed. A special thanks to all the Emerald Oaks staff and Freedom Home Health and Hospice Services for their caring and loving assistance. Dorothy was preceded in death by husbands, Enrique Morfin Figueroa and George L. Dilling, son, Kenneth L. Dilling. Whereabouts of daughter, Victoria Dilling Tatlow are unknown, as she has been missing for two years. Dorothy is survived by daughter, Maria Morfin, sons, Peter Morfin (Emily), and George W. Dilling (Claudia), grandchildren, Natasha, Jason, Leah, Zach, James, and Olivia, great grandchildren, Lunea, Charlize, Vivienne, and Zev. Dorothy touched so many lives and will not be forgotten. A memorial for family and friends will be held after the beginning of the year. A notice will be placed at a later date for all to attend as well as personal contacts.