Doris Gardenhour, devout Christian
Doris Gardenhour, 96, of Rehoboth Beach, peacefully completed her baptismal journey Thursday, May 22, 2025. She was born in Waynesboro, Pa., to the late Eber and Katharine Latshaw and grew up in a three-generation household during the Depression. Doris enjoyed her school years in the small town, not realizing she would meet her future husband, Al, in junior high while both participated in sports events.
After high school, Doris attended Shippensburg State College and enrolled in business classes. During the summer of 1948, she worked at Penn State as a secretary in the Electrical Engineering Department. She and Al, not allowed to “sit on their boarding house porches together,” decided to marry. They wed Sept. 18, 1948, and went on to celebrate 68 anniversaries together.
Following her husband’s graduation from PSU in 1950, they returned to their hometown, moving a year later to Silver Spring, Md., where they both worked at the Naval Ordnance Lab. Next came family, with the arrival of Kevin, and two years later, Susan.
A new job with Xerox took the family to Santa Monica, Calif., for seven years before they moved back to Bethesda, Md. Doris and Al lived in Bethesda for 24 years before retiring to Rehoboth Beach, moving next door to their good friends, Jim and Ellen Herd. A snowbird home in Mesa, Ariz., kept them on the move until 10 years ago.
As a member of Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Rehoboth, Doris filled her days actively engaged in service. She knit prayer shawls, served at International Student Dinners, attended Bible studies and book club, made banners for the church, and served as a hostess for many receptions. Mondays were reserved for volunteering at the New Life Thrift Store.
Doris enjoyed hosting family and friends at her beach home. Summer trips to Rehoboth from Sue and her family were always anticipated with joy. Doris is survived by her son, Kevin; daughter, Sue; son-in-law, David; and beloved granddaughters, Sarah (Ben) Hamilton and Amy (Chris) Gerdes. Adored great-grandsons, Cade and Weston, continue the legacy of coming to the beach. The extended family includes Betty Attridge, Clete and Karen Gardenhour, Carl Modig, Lois Shull, and nieces and nephews. Her husband, Al, preceded her in death in 2017.
A Celebration of Doris’ Life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 7, at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach. Friends may begin visiting at 10 a.m., and a luncheon will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Lutheran Church of Our Savior or Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:23.
Visit Doris's Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
