Dorothe Newton

Newton was born in
Pomeroy, on June 19,
1919, to Matilda Weimer and Adam Rubenser. She
was one of three children, her brother and sister being
Cecil and Bernice Rubenser.
Active in school basketball, musicals and tap dancing,
she graduated from Pomeroy High School in
1938. She excelled in swimming and diving including
the 20’ high dive tower. She was a familiar figure
at the local pool where she worked as a lifeguard
to earn her season ticket. On a dare from her older
brother she swam the width of the Snake River near
Lewiston. After that, she did it for fun. “Showing
the world she could” became a lifelong habit.
In late 1943, she married Richard H. “Smokey”
Newton in Glendale, Calif. ‘Smokey’ was in the
Coast Guard during the war and they were stationed
in San Francisco through VJ Day where she vividly
remembered the overturned streetcars and general
exultation and mayhem that ensued.
Dorothe and ‘Smokey’ produced two offspring, Michael,
and his sister Robyn. After an eventful and
interesting marriage, they parted ways in 1955.
Dorothe was a self sufficient and independent woman
before there were many role models to follow. As
the need presented itself, she simply made her way
forward and was proud not to have been beholden to
anyone, including the state. She enjoyed her years
working at the Zink General Store, the Walla Walla
Elk’s Lodge and then, for more than two decades at
the Walla Walla Country Club where she became a
well-loved and highly skilled mixologist. Dorothe
took as much pride in making a perfect martini as
someone might have in painting a beautiful landscape.
She was a survivor. One of her greatest life challenges
came with a massive case of Guillain-Barré
Syndrome at age 44, accompanied by the doctor’s
ominous prognosis of 2 weeks left to live. She simply
said “Well, I CAN’T die. I have my children.” After
almost a year in the hospital, she managed to stand,
walk and eventually, to work again.
A second such challenge came at age 69. She was
diagnosed with inoperable colon cancer that had
spread throughout her body. The unanimous prognosis
of “90 days to live,” from two cancer center’s,
was rejected by Dorothe and following that lifelong
habit, just “showed the world she could,” and lived
on for another healthy 28 years, much to the consternation
of her doctors.
In later years, Dorothe became a member of the
board of directors at the Walla Walla Senior Center
where she was also an avid player of Bridge and
always loved to bid a slam. Other later-in-life activities
included Muddy Frogwater square dancers, the
Happy Hoofer’s tap group and being a participant in
Senior Center aerobics. She also enjoyed her rose
and vegetable garden.
Dorothe enjoyed her travels to Banff, Canada, New
Zealand, Australia, China, the Bahamas, and Hawaii.
While life sometimes required of Dorothe that she
be tough as nails, her latent sweetness was never
far away. While not much for organized religion, she
did believe in God, and her heart was open to the
Spirit. She passed quietly from this life, at peace in
her own home, just “showing the world she could,”
one last time.
Dorothe was pre-deceased by her parents; and her
dear brother, Cecil. She is survived by her son, Michael
of Baker City, Ore.; her daughter, Robyn of
Walla Walla; her sister, Bernice Novell (Donald) of
Port Hueneme, Calif.; two grandchildren, several
great-grandchildren, and two nephews and a niece.
At Dorothe’s request there will be no funeral.
Memorial contributions can be made to Walla Walla
Senior Center through Herring-Groseclose Funeral
Home at 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362