Dorothy Beatrice Lanphier
Dorothy Beatrice Lanphier
Dorothy Beatrice Lanphier
October 15, 1926 – December 22, 2016
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 90
Dorothy Lanphier, 90, of Oskaloosa died Thursday evening, December 22, 2016, at the Oskaloosa Care Center.
Dorothy Beatrice Lanphier was born in Iowa County, Iowa, October 15, 1926, daughter of Alfert L. and Violet F. Moore Bunnell. She was the fifth of eight children: Hazel, Alvah, Lester, Donald, Earl, Mabel, and Max.
Dorothy attended rural schools in Washington and Keokuk Counties and graduated from Delta High School in 1944.
November 19, 1944, she married Harold K. Sellars, Jr. and to this union, six children were born: Kenneth L., L. Kent, Linda L., Donald E., Diana L., and Roxann F. They later divorced. On October 11, 1968, she married Justin “Jack” Lanphier. They lived on the Des Moines River and in the town of Evans for many years. They loved fishing and their little Pug Zipper.
Dorothy worked at various jobs around Oskaloosa which included Shorty’s Cafe and the Coffee Cup. She was a Life Member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a lifelong member of the Eagles Lodge in Oskaloosa until declining health made her scale back her activities. As her health declined, she went to live at the Oskaloosa Care Center in 2011.
In her youth, she learned to play the piano and the guitar from a neighbor, Mildred Cranston. She also learned to play the harmonica from her father, as did her two brothers, Alvah and Donald. She loved to dance to the old country music played in the 50’s and 60’s. People will best remember her from the jokes and stories she loved to tell.
She is survived by four children: L. Kent (& Luisa) Sellars of New Mexico, Donald “Donnie” Sellars of Colorado, Diana (& Bruce) Mattix of California and Roxann (& Mike) Goings of California; two stepchildren; 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Mabel Daniels of Beacon; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and both of her husbands, Dorothy was preceded in death by two children: Linda and Kenneth; a granddaughter, Nancy Hershey; five brothers: Alvah, Lester, Donald, Earl, and Max; and a half sister, Hazel Frisk.
As was her wish, Dorothy’s body has been cremated.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Beacon Cemetery with Pastor Andy Baker of the Central Reformed Church officiating. Her ashes will be buried next to her husband, Jack Lanphier.
Those wishing to attend the service should meet at the cemetery.
A Celebration of Life Gathering and Luncheon Will follow the service and will be held at the American Legion Post #34 at 302 High Ave. East. Garland-Van Arkel- Langkamp Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the online guest book at gvlfuneralchapel.com.
