Dorothy King
Age - 87
December 3, 2023
Dorothy Overchuk Chitwood King of Villa Rica, GA went to be with her Savior on December 1, 2023, after suffering a stroke; she was 87 years old. Dorothy was born at home in Chicago, IL, on Labor Day, September 7, 1936, to immigrants from Russia and Poland, Paul and Mary Ciesla Overchuk. Because of the holiday, a working midwife could not be located, so Dorothy was delivered by her father. Dorothy was a full-term baby but weighed only 2. 5 pounds. Dorothy's parents placed her in a shoe box and used the slightly warm oven door as in incubator; they didn't expect her to survive. But survive she did! Dorothy was the youngest of seven children, and her older siblings helped raise her, particularly her sister, Stella.
Dorothy was a tomboy and ran around her Chicago neighborhood with her pals. Rumor has it that she occasionally beat older boys at dice, winning all of their money. Dorothy told hilarious stories, one of which was a time when all her friends were having a rotten vegetable fight that ended when they accidentally hit a police officer in the face with a tomato as he drove by. Dorothy said you never saw kids scatter so fast! Dorothy shared lots of other memories, such as her weekends taking the bus to double-feature movies and spending her summers at the beaches of Lake Michigan swimming and digging for freshwater clams.
The most significant and pivotal moment of Dorothy's life occurred on a Chicago street corner when she was 10 years old. Dorothy was waiting for a bus with a female soldier from the Salvation Army. The soldier shared the good news of Jesus Christ with Dorothy, and Dorothy got on her bus a new creation, redeemed by the grace of God. Dorothy lived her life in wonder at this grace, that God would seek and save her in this way. Dorothy grew up wanting to learn more about God and attended Sunday School or Bible clubs when she had the opportunity. Dorothy also experienced and marveled at God's protection of her; He thwarted three kidnapping attempts, He saw to it that a nail ricocheted a lightning bolt that hit her bedroom and would have gone through her while she was sleeping, and He awoke her just before her car rolled into the river when she fell asleep at the wheel. In early adulthood, God placed Christians in Dorothy's path who were examples to her, and she learned how to follow Jesus; she dedicated her life to Christ at the age of 25 and remained devoted to Him for the rest of her life.
Dorothy enjoyed being a wife, mother, and grandmother, lovingly called Buscia by her grandchildren; she prayed for each of her family members by name daily. Dorothy had the opportunity to live in Illinois, Tennessee, Malaysia, and Georgia; she also was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the Eastern European homelands of her parents when she went on a mission trip in 2007 at age 71. Dorothy also had many jobs throughout the years: manufacturing assembly, dental assistant, teacher's aid, accounts payable/receivable clerk, and veterinary office manager, just to name a few. Dorothy enjoyed serving in her church and singing in the choir, sending greeting cards, watching and feeding birds, painting, making jewelry, decorating her home for seasons and holidays, playing games, particularly dominoes and cards, and watching movies.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and her husbands, James E. Chitwood and Charles J. King, Sr. Dorothy is survived by her children: Gary Chitwood (Jean), Donna Kam, Rebecca Brown (Jeff), and Mary Shadrix (Terry); her grandchildren: Timothy Kam, Philip Kam, Jaymes Hollis, Rachel Hollis, and Matthew Hollis; bonus grandchildren Priscilla Milback (Tommy), Addie Shadrix, and Emma Shadrix; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Visitation with the family will be held Wednesday, December 6, from 12pm to 2pm with a Celebration of Life service at 2pm. Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven is honored to be entrusted with the services of Dorothy O. King.Show more
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