Doris K. Till

Born on March 4, 1921, in Dunkirk, N.Y., Doris was the daughter of late Lawrence and Pearl (Bemus) Willson. Doris was raised in Sheridan, N.Y., and she was a 1940 graduate of Dunkirk High School. After high school, she took a secretary course and was recruited from an office position to work in Washington, D.C., for the war preparation effort. Her two brothers were already in uniform serving their country. Doris first worked on Constitution Avenue before becoming one of the first people to relocate to the newly built Pentagon as a typist. Late in 1944, the military told her and the other women the war was almost over, and they would no longer be needed at the Pentagon.

Doris was sad to leave, but she had family and a farm boy named Lester waiting for her at home. She had met Lester Till at a barn dance, they got married, and together they raised their two children: William A.P. Till (deceased) and Walter J. Till (deceased). They also raised and cared for numerous foster children including, Roy Marvin (deceased) while on the farm in Arkwright.

Doris was an exemplary Christian, with a passion in caring for and helping both humanity and animals throughout her entire life. Doris loved traveling, and had visited all of the 48 continental United States. She brought back a piece of the Berlin Wall with her after touring it after its fall, along with numerous souvenirs through the years. She persuaded her husband to attend the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, and she also loved to visit Key West, Fla., while it was largely undeveloped.

Doris enjoyed knitting and was a shrewd card shark when it came to playing Rummy 500 with her grandchildren. She often reminded us that travelling while you can was the best way to spend your money. She loved to grow and eat her veggies, bake goodies, and also to garden. She will be greatly missed.

Doris is survived by her grandchildren: Aaron Till and Mandy Frank of North Carolina (Walter J. and Penny (Carpenter) Till), Amber Rivenbark and Kyra Neuman of North Carolina (Walter J. and Tracy L. (Wright) Till), William Till II of Elmira N.Y., and Patrick Till of Lockport N.Y. (William A. P. and Mary L. Till) and her 12 great-grandchildren (and growing).

She was predeceased by her father, Lawrence A. Willson; mother, Pearl A. (Bemus) Willson; husband Lester Till; brothers: Woodrow Willson and Ralph Willson; and sons William A.P. Till and Walter J. Till.

Following the guidelines and protocols administered by the governor of New York, family and friends may call from 10-11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, at the gathering room in St. Joseph Church, 145 E. Main St., Fredonia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated immediately after the calling hours at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Cowden’s Corner Cemetery, Arkwright, N.Y.

Arrangements are by the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home. To post condolences or memories go to http:mcgrawkowal.com