Dorothy J. Dinkel

November 8, 1938 - October 12, 2014 Dorothy Dinkel passed on at her home in Lakewood on October 12th. She died one month short of her 76th birthday after a gritty 4 ½ year battle with peritoneal cancer. Dorothy was born in 1938 in Oklahoma City to Thomas and Gladys Lansden. She grew up with her parents and siblings in Shawnee and Enid, Oklahoma. Dorothy graduated from Enid High School and went on to attend the University of Oklahoma where she became a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She graduated from OU in 1960 with a degree in Education as a member of the Dean's list. Upon graduating from college, Dorothy moved to Lakewood, Colorado to become an elementary school teacher for the Jefferson County School District. It was at her first apartment complex where she met another recent Coloradoan and future husband, Kenneth Dinkel. Dorothy and Kenneth were married in 1961 at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in Lakewood. Dorothy and Kenneth had two children, Kent and Beverly, whom they raised in their Lakewood home that she and Kenneth built in 1963. After raising her own children, Dorothy continued demonstrating her love of children by returning to Molholm Elementary school where she taught for many years. After retiring, Dorothy found more time to enjoy her beloved pets and hobbies including gardening, music, arts and crafts. Dorothy enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and watching them participate in various athletic events from elementary school through college. After being diagnosed with cancer, her will to fight the disease was driven by her desire to see her grandchildren reach their various life milestones. Dorothy is survived by her brother (Tommy Lansden), husband (Kenneth Dinkel), two children (Beverly Sanders and Kent Dinkel) and five grandchildren (Alex Depa, Dillon Sanders, Evan Sanders, Grant Dinkel Jackson Dinkel). Her mother (Gladys Lansden), father (Thomas Lansden) and sister (Patricia Louise Dill) preceded her in death. Memorial services will be held Friday, Oct 17th at 11:30 AM at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at 3900 Pierce Street in Wheat Ridge. In lieu of flowers, Dorothy requested that donations be made to Rocky Mountain Cancer Assistance at http://www.rockymountaincancerassistance.org/how-you-can-help.