Dorothy L. Neidlinger, 95, of Gainesville, Florida passed away in Jacksonville, Florida on October 18, 2022. She was born May 18, 1927, in Canton, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Neidlinger on May 17, 2011. They had two sons, David and Arthur, five grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Dorothy and her husband married March 17, 1946. They enjoyed camping and dancing throughout the USA. In 1984 they moved to Gainesville, Florida, to enjoy their retirement years where many of their neighbors fondly called Dorothy “Mom” throughout the years. Dorothy is survived by her brother, Paul Williams of Greenville, South Carolina and her sister, Betty Jean Soptelean of North Canton, Ohio, as well as several nieces and nephews. Dorothy’s Internment will be at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 1:30 pm .
Aunt Dorothy re-entered my life a few years ago after an absence of decades. My brother , who watched over her in later years as if she were his own mother, brought the connection about. Aunt Dorothy and I spoke by phone occasionally.She could be so warm that I felt like I was visiting her home just as I first did over sixty years ago. She spoke of how she looked forward to being with her husband again. Now she has moved on to that happiness she wanted and the absence we must accept…..for now.