Dorothy W. Trimble

Dorothy W. Trimble, 89, Moline community leader and business woman, died Tuesday, December 6, 2005, in Pathway Hospice at Trinity at Terrace Park Medical Center, Bettendorf, Iowa. With her family around her, her death was a peaceful end to a beautiful life.

Dorothy was a resident of Moline for 56 years until moving to Angelus-North Hill Retirement Village in East Moline in 2000. 
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday , December 10, 2005, in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. The Reverend Kent W. Trimble and The Reverend Janice Griffith will officiate. Burial is in Riverside Cemetery, Moline. Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, where friends are invited to join the family in sharing memories and stories of Dorothy at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be made to Riverside United Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, or a favorite charity.

The former Dorothy Eloise Wilhelmy was born March 21, 1916, in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of Dr. Orville and Cluthia Opal (Miller) Wilhelmy. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1933, and attended Millikin University, Decatur, where she was affiliated with Delta Delta Delta Social Sorority, graduating with honors in 1937. She taught at Decatur High School from 1937, until her marriage to Riley Weston Trimble on August 9, 1942, in Decatur. He died June 27, 1983. The couple moved to Moline in 1944, and bought the former Knox Funeral Home on July 1, 1945. Dorothy became a licensed funeral director in 1958, and worked with her family until retiring in 2000. She continued to be Corporate Secretary of Trimble Inc. and the Trimble Group, which includes funeral homes in Moline and Coal Valley, Trimble Funeral Planning Insurance Agency, Staack Florist, and WaterMark Corners and WaterMark Stationers in Moline.

Dorothy was a member of Riverside United Methodist Church, Moline, formerly First United Methodist Church, for over 60 years, and served on the Administrative Board and the Altar and Worship Committees, was president of the former Women?s Society of Christian Service and Chairman of various church circles through the years. With her long-time friend Irene Saddler, she served as Church Greeter for over 30 years.

Dorothy was an active community leader for many years until age and health forced her to slow down. She was president of Moline School Foundation, Rock Island-Moline Branch of American Association of University Women, Chapter BL of P.E.O. Sisterhood, the former Fortnightly Club, Semper Fidelis Circle of King's Daughters, Calvin Coolidge Junior High School PTA, and the DeMolay Mother's Club. She was Vice President of the Woman's Club of Moline, Chairman of the Club's Art and Literature Department and Vice President of the Club's Garden Department V. She was Secretary of the former Rock Island County Tuberculosis Association and the Rock Island County Historical Society. In addition, she was a member of Board of Directors of the Moline Y.W.C.A., Moline Salvation Army, the former Moline Community Chest, and the Grant Elementary, Coolidge Junior High and Moline High School PTAs. She also served as a member of the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Moline Board of Education during the planning of the construction of the present Moline High School. She was a member of Rock Island - Moline Chapter of Zonta International, Moline Chapter #258 of the Order of Eastern Star, Black Hawk Genealogy Society, Quad City Area Alumnae Club of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, Literary Guild of Moline, Moline Lady Elks, The Outing Club of Davenport, Lend-A-Hand Circle of King's Daughters, and Book Club II of AAUW.

In addition to her community leadership, Dorothy will be remembered by many for three things: the numerous letters and notes of encouragement she wrote over the years to young people and adults whose accomplishments were reported in the newspaper, her extensive collection of elephants, started while she was in school and now numbering over 1300, a portion of which are displayed in her family's funeral homes, and the brownies, made from her secret recipe, which she often gave to friends and to families she was serving. In memory of this, brownies will be served at the visitation.

Dorothy is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Kent W. and Christine A. Trimble of Jefferson City, Missouri, and Eric R. and Barbara J. Trimble of Moline; and four grandchildren, Amy Trimble Lorimer and her husband David B. Lorimer II, and Reid W. Trimble, all of Moline, Genta C. Trimble and Kyle W. Trimble, both of Jefferson City. She was preceded in death by her only sister, Barbara Jeanne Korty of Glasford, Illinois, who died November 12, 2005.

Dorothy's family invites friends to extend condolences, share a memory, or light a candle in her honor at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.