Obituary of Dorothy Oldham-Bonner

Dorothy Oldham-Bonner of Lockport, NY, went to be with the Lord on Monday April 17, 2017. She was born in Ashville, NY, on April 19, 1923, the daughter of Lynn and Martha Hayton Carpenter. Dorothy graduated from Jeannette High School, Jeannette, PA, in 1941. She graduated from Wayne School for Dental Technicians in 1952 and worked for fifteen years in the dental field. Dorothy received her Bachelors Degree in Vocational-Technical Education in 1968 and her Masters Degree in 1972 from State University at Buffalo, NY. She attended Washington State University at Buffalo in Teacher Preparation Program in Health Sciences and Education. Dorothy was a Professor in the Life Sciences Division at Niagara County Community College and Director of the A.A.S. Degree Dental Assisting Program before retiring in 1994 as Professor Emeritus. From 1968-85 Dorothy held an adjunct position at the State University of Buffalo in the Health Related teacher Preparation Program. She won the Preparation Award in 1974. In 1978, she won the “The New York State Chancellors Award for Excellence in Teaching”. In 1981, she was the recipient of the “Recognition of Women Administrators” awarded by the National Center of Research in Vocational education. Dorothy has been published several times in National Dental Journals. A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lockport for many years, she served as Elder and Deacon and played in the bell choir for fifteen years. Those who knew Dorothy well will remember her love for her many cats, which she hopes to see as she crosses over the “Rainbow Bridge”. Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Norman E. Bonner; and her first husband, William V. Oldham; brother, Leland Carpenter; and sister, Helen Smeltzer. She is survived by her twin daughters, Karan (Keith) Lupton and Marilyn Fletcher; stepson, Mark (Debbie) Bonner; grandchildren, Richard (Linda) Fletcher, Karen (Steve) Lechiara, Margaret (Rob) Robinson, Gary Gray, Todd (Ashley) Gray, Kirsten Garrison, Mark (Heather) Bonner, Breanne (Andy) Sieurin and Laurie (John) Marsonet; great grandchildren, Sterling, Sebastien, Cole, Macy, Will and Zachary Gray, Emma and Ian Robinson, Peter and Sophia Lechiara, Madeline and Emmerson Sieurin and nephews, Denny and Terry Smeltzer. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday April 21, 2017 at 4:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 21 Church St. Interment will be in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans, WV. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Eastern Niagara Animal Welfare, 544 Willow St., Lockport, NY 14094. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.langefuneralhomeinc.com.