Marvel Naomi Dodson, a former teacher and past president of Soroptimist International of Downey, has died.
Dodson was born Sept. 30, 1920 to Myrtle and Roscoe Lucas of Verdon, Nebr. After graduating from Verdon High School and attending Peru State College in Nebraska, she taught eight years of elementary school.
She met and married Gerald Dodson, a lieutenant in the United States Air Force, in 1946. Their first residence was in Presque Isle, Maine, but they moved frequently throughout the country, including stops in North Dakota, Kansas, Mather Field, Calif., Waco, Tex., Morocco, Africa, and Long Island, N.Y.
Dodson and her husband had three children, Timothy, Jeffrey and Deborah. When Gerald Dodson passed away on Nov. 22, 1960 at Mitchell Air Force Base, Marvel and her children moved to Downey where her parents, brother and a sister lived.
She worked for 15 years as the director of the Assistance League Volunteer Center, and taught calligraphy for eight years for the Downey Parks and Recreation Department. She then taught for five more years at Downey Adult School.
Dodson was past president of Soroptimist International of Downey, an associate member of the Assistance League, and past coordinator of the South Los Angeles Society of Calligraphy.
She is survived by her sister, Evelyn Snethen; children, Timothy, Jeffrey and Deborah; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at the Moravian Church of Downey, 10337 Old River School Rd., on Oct. 24 at 10 a.m.
