Dolly H.R. Whitham

Dolly H. R. Whitham Long Time Civil Servant and Original Supermom Dolly H. R. Whitham died April 21, 2010 at Windham Hospital. She was born March 21, 1922 in Longmeadow MA, the daughter of the late Ernest W. and Evelene McGuill Rogers. As a young girl her family relocated to Norwich CT. After graduating from Norwich Free Academy in 1940 she went on to attend the University of Connecticut where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and met her husband of 57 years, George Erwin Whitham. In 1955 they returned to Storrs with their young family and established themselves firmly in the Mansfield Community. Dolly worked as a reporter for the Hartford Courant from 1967 until her retirement in the late 1970's. After this she became the Republican Registrar of Voters for the Town of Mansfield, a position she held for 25 years which she was very proud to hold, and which eventually led her to serve as the President of the Registrar of Voters Association of Connecticut (ROVAC). Her civic activities included the League of Women Voters, the Women's Club of Storrs, and the Mansfield Historical Society. She served as a member of the Mansfield Board of Education from1989 through 1995. She also served as a town constable for many years. As a long time member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Storrs she was active as a lay reader and a member of the Round Table. She was predeceased by her husband, George and her son-in-law, W. Clay Jordan of Noank, CT. She is survived by her 10 children: Patricia Whitham Brown and her husband Frederick of Storrs CT, Michele Whitham and her husband Jesse Keefe of Medford MA, Theresa Whitham Jordan of Noank CT, G. Mark Whitham and his wife Yleana Sanchez of Coventry, CT, Leslie Whitham Maddocks and her husband Peter of Ashford CT, Peter Whitham and his wife Nancy of Woodstock, CT, Alison Whitham Blair and her husband Edward of Mansfield Center, CT, Roger Whitham and his wife Gaye of South Windsor, CT, Damian Whitham and his wife Lydia of Falls Church VA and Kate Whitham Starkey and her husband Robert of Columbia CT. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Friday April 23rd between 4:00 and 7:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:00am at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, with interment following in Storrs Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the George E. and Dolly H. Whitham Memorial Fund, c/o Windham Hospital, 112 Mansfield Ave., Willimantic, CT 06226. For online memorial guestbook and directions to the funeral home, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .