Dortha Castle passed away peacefully at 10:47 pm, Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the age of 99, surrounded by family she loved. Born Dortha Mae Zinn on October 28, 1924 in Chili, Indiana, she was 1 of 10 children of Roy and Sarah (Thompson) Zinn. She was raised and schooled in Chili. After graduating Wabash High School, Dortha enlisted in the Navy, attended nursing school in Indianapolis, and was honorably discharged after war ended. She returned to Wabash to be with family and worked as an au pair. It was there she met her husband of 59 years Dennis Castle, of Kentucky. Together they had five children, Dennis Michael, Joann, Rose, Ellen and Mary. Since Dortha’s husband Dennis was in the Air Force, the family moved around the country to Air Force bases coast to coast, including two tours of duty in Dortha’s favorite – Hawaii, along the way making lifelong friends. When Dennis retired from the Air Force the family moved back to Wabash. Dortha worked in Wabash as a nurse, including time as Wabash County Health Nurse, volunteer for Red Cross, and remained in Wabash until her death.
Dortha had a deep devotion to God and her church. Everywhere she lived Dortha enjoyed singing in the church choir. She had a passion for baking and decorating beautiful cakes for others. Dortha was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troops. Family gatherings including siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews and grandkids were very important to her as she was quite a social person. Thanks to her daughter Ellen’s passion for genealogy Dortha became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Dortha was proceeded in death by her parents Roy and Sarah Zinn, all of her siblings, her husband Dennis and daughter Rose Blue. She leaves behind her son Dennis Michael and his husband Daniel Borgstadt, her daughters Joann (Michael) Coburn, Mary (Mike) Kirk, Ellen (Dennis) Tyner, grandson Jason (Alicia) Rogers and great-grandson Lucius Rogers.
The family would like to thank the members of the Christ United Methodist Church for helping Dortha attend church and sing in the choir as long as she was able. The family is very grateful for the team at Wellbrooke of Wabash for all of the care they have given Dortha over the last ten years. We would especially like to thank her nephew Charlie and his wife Cheri Zinn for their commitment to her care and needs.
Funeral services, will be 2:00 pm Friday, September 20, 2024 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with Pastor Andrea Lantz officiating. Burial will be in Paw Paw Cemetery, Miami County, Indiana. Friends may call from 12:30-2:00 pm Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to the charity of the Donor’s Choice in memory of Dortha Castle.
Dortha Castle
Dortha Castle passed away peacefully at 10:47 pm, Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the age of 99, surrounded by family she loved. Born Dortha Mae Zinn on October 28, 1924 in Chili, Indiana, she was 1 of 10 children of Roy and Sarah (Thompson) Zinn. She was raised and schooled in Chili. After graduating Wabash High School, Dortha enlisted in the Navy, attended nursing school in Indianapolis, and was honorably discharged after war ended. She returned to Wabash to be with family and worked as an au pair. It was there she met her husband of 59 years Dennis Castle, of Kentucky. Together they had five children, Dennis Michael, Joann, Rose, Ellen and Mary. Since Dortha’s husband Dennis was in the Air Force, the family moved around the country to Air Force bases coast to coast, including two tours of duty in Dortha’s favorite – Hawaii, along the way making lifelong friends. When Dennis retired from the Air Force the family moved back to Wabash. Dortha worked in Wabash as a nurse, including time as Wabash County Health Nurse, volunteer for Red Cross, and remained in Wabash until her death.
Dortha had a deep devotion to God and her church. Everywhere she lived Dortha enjoyed singing in the church choir. She had a passion for baking and decorating beautiful cakes for others. Dortha was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troops. Family gatherings including siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews and grandkids were very important to her as she was quite a social person. Thanks to her daughter Ellen’s passion for genealogy Dortha became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Dortha was proceeded in death by her parents Roy and Sarah Zinn, all of her siblings, her husband Dennis and daughter Rose Blue. She leaves behind her son Dennis Michael and his husband Daniel Borgstadt, her daughters Joann (Michael) Coburn, Mary (Mike) Kirk, Ellen (Dennis) Tyner, grandson Jason (Alicia) Rogers and great-grandson Lucius Rogers.
The family would like to thank the members of the Christ United Methodist Church for helping Dortha attend church and sing in the choir as long as she was able. The family is very grateful for the team at Wellbrooke of Wabash for all of the care they have given Dortha over the last ten years. We would especially like to thank her nephew Charlie and his wife Cheri Zinn for their commitment to her care and needs.
Funeral services, will be 2:00 pm Friday, September 20, 2024 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with Pastor Andrea Lantz officiating. Burial will be in Paw Paw Cemetery, Miami County, Indiana. Friends may call from 12:30-2:00 pm Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to the charity of the Donor’s Choice in memory of Dortha Castle.
