Thursday, April 17, 2014

Dorothy Mae Chamness Henry, BHS 1952

Dorothy Mae Chamness Henry, BHS 1952
July 10, 1934 - March 30, 2014

Dorothy Mae (Chamness) Henry passed away on March 30, 2014 after a long 8 year battle with Demetria / Alzheimer’s. She was born on July 10, 1934 to Raymond and Olive Chamness and raised in Burbank, California with her late older sister Marcia (Chamness) Fochler.

Dorothy attended Burbank schools, including Miller Elementary, John Muir Jr. High, and Burbank High School where she graduated in 1952. She went on to Glendale Jr. College and then Cal State LA to earn a teaching degree. She began her 41 year Burbank teaching career at Central (Disney) Elementary in September of 1958. She worked there until 1963 when she moved to Roosevelt. She took a pause from teaching in 1966 following maternity leave, but returned in 1968 to Jefferson Elementary where she continued to teach Kindergarten and First Grade until her retirement in June 2001. During her career, she received many awards, accolades, and honors, including teacher of the year from the Burbank Kiwanis Club.

A life-long student of early childhood education, Dorothy was an active volunteer in several organizations dedicated to advancing the education of young children. During her career, Dorothy was proud to have personally touched the lives and shaped the future of over 1,300 kindergarten/1st grade students. She was also a leader and member of her local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

She is survived by her two children Denise Henry Colvey of Atlanta, GA and Darrell Henry of Arlington, VA, and grandchildren Drake and Olivia Henry.

Published in the La Canada Valley Sun, April 14, 2014.

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