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Dorothy Soden
In Memory of
Dorothy May
Soden
1932 - 2017
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Thurston Rowe Funeral Home
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Obituary for Dorothy May Soden

Dorothy May  Soden
Dorothy May Soden
Wilderness School Retiree

LITCHFIELD - Dorothy May Soden passed away on July 14, 2017 surrounded by her loving family due to complications from advanced Alzheimer’s disease. She was born in New Britain on November 12, 1932 to the late Arthur Jerome Evans and Roberta Frances (Hosking) Evans. She was married to James Orr Soden for 65 years. They were married April 26, 1952 in Plainville, CT. Dottie and Jim met while attending Plainville High School in Plainville, CT.

Dorothy was always very involved in the community. She loved people and was always volunteering her time and services. She was a working mother, and held a position at the Washington-Preston News as society editor prior to moving to Bristol CT, and worked from home while raising her 4-year-old son Jimmie and 8-month-old daughter Bonnie. Later, she became an administrator at the Wilderness School in East Hartland, CT which is a state program that specialized in providing programs to foster positive development specifically with rehabilitating troubled teens. She retired from the wilderness school after approximately 18 years.

She was also involved with Special Olympics for over 15 years and helped coach swimming and cross country skiing. Dorothy was an active member of the United Methodist church in Litchfield and sang in the church choir. She also sang at the Torrington Sullivan Senior Center, Silver Belles and Beaux and the women’s choir in Thomaston. These groups performed concerts and sang at many nursing homes.

Dorothy and her Husband Jim were involved in raising and showing Polled Hereford cattle and competing at fairs throughout the state of Connecticut and at the Big E in Mass. They traveled throughout New England buying and selling cattle. She was a lover of animals, and always had dogs with whom they traveled across the country in their RV. They both were the owners of Clover Hill Farm in Litchfield CT, where they also raised chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep, rabbits, pigs, horses and cattle. She loved being outside on the farm and was actively involved in the caretaking of the property and the animals.

She was full of life, and lover of the outdoors. She loved alpine and cross country skiing. Dorothy was an avid swimmer into her 70s, spending multiple days a week swimming laps in an Olympic size pool, making sure to get to the YMCA bright and early to have a lane all to herself. She loved her flower garden, and going for long rides in the country. She loved her family and friends dearly, and always met her loved ones with warmth, sincerity and comfort.

Dorothy passed away at 4:30 pm on 7/14/17 at the Torrington Health and Rehab. The family would like to thank the caregivers there for the amazing around the clock care she received for the years she resided there.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, James Orr Soden; a son, James Soden, II; a daughter, Bonnie Perrotti and husband Phillip; a brother, Charles Evans; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Babcock; two granddaughters; Amy (Soden) Armstrong and her husband, Tim Armstrong, and Christina Pratt and two great grandchildren, Brianna Armstrong (12) and Jacob Armstrong (10). She was predeceased by a son Randall Soden, III.

Calling Hours will be Friday, July 21, 2017 from 4-7 pm at Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Rd., Litchfield, CT. A Funeral Service will be Saturday at 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church, 69 West Street, Litchfield. Burial will follow in East Cemetery, Litchfield.

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