Doris Dansby Todd

Doris Dansby Todd, 93, of Bryan, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2012, at the Millican House. A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 2012, at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home in Bryan. There is no visitation scheduled.
Doris was born July 19, 1918, Bryan, Texas, Brazos County, to Katie (Wilcox) and Guy M. Dansby. She was the granddaughter of Marshall F. Dansby who was one of the founding businessmen of Bryan. After graduating from high school in 1936, Doris worked as a clerk-typist for the U S Department of Agriculture until she went to Secretarial Business School, in Houston, in 1939. After finishing business school, she, again, worked for the Department of Agriculture until WW II. She was one of the first young women to enlist in the WAVES (Navy), a very pioneering act as well as patriotic. She served from December 1942 to December 1945; most of that time was spent in Tennessee and Florida. When she returned home, she returned to work for the Department of Agriculture until she married. She then worked for her husband, Bill, who was Manager for the Southern District of RealSilk for Texas and Oklahoma. During this time, they lived in Dallas and Houston. In 1954, the family returned to Bryan where she once more returned to work for the Department of Agriculture. She has been president of the A&M Mother’s Club and president of the past-presidents of the A&M Mothers Club, several terms, both organizations. She retired in 1978 with 33½ years of service for the U S Government. She was very proud of her government service, especially her military service. Doris was a standing member of the American Legion Earl Graham Post 159 in Bryan.
Doris is also very proud of her service to her church. She joined The First Presbyterian Church, December 1928, and has more membership years than anyone else in her church, almost 60 years. She has dedicated countless hours helping others through her church and other organizations offering help to others. Doris was the very first woman to serve as a church elder and a church deacon, also serving as president of the women of the church, more than once, chairwoman of many different church committees, and helping put together numerous activities for the church. She answered telephones for the church office while staff meetings were held every week, organized and fed the young people of the church weekly, also being a dedicated member of the church bulletin “folders” a number of years. She taught kindergarten Sunday school classes as well as adult Sunday school class many years. The list of her wonderful charitably work goes on and on. She is and has always been an excellent example of God working though His service army.
After retiring Doris traveled a great deal. Her first big trip was to Norway to see her first grandchild. Two years later her second grandchild, also, was born in Norway. Her third grandchild was born in Alaska. Doris has been to forty-six of the fifty U.S. states. She made a quilt showing all fifty states coordinating each state as they joined the union, one red, one blue, with a border showing the state capitols. Each state square showed the state, the state bird, the state motto, and when the state joined the union. Her cousin wrote President Reagan (sitting President at the time) about the beautiful quilt, telling him how patriotic Doris was, how proud she is to have served in the WAVES and to have just served her county in general. The President wrote Doris a letter thanking her for her patriotism and for showing her patriotism in such a beautiful manner as her U.S. quilt. The letter was a total surprise to her and means a great deal since the quilt took several years to complete. Doris did a lot of research in making the quilt, regarding birds and flowers, what color they were and how they really looked, the mottoes, and such, for each state, not including all the hours and hours of embroidery work before actually putting the quit together. Including quilting, over the years, Doris has always done craft work, cross stitch work, sewing of just about anything one could think of, gardening, plus playing cards, loving a good game of dominoes or tri-minoes, and reading. If Doris undertook something, it was going to be done and done to perfection. Doris is truly one grand lady, beautiful inside and out. All her life she has taken care of people around her, not just family, but anyone she knew who needed company or personal attention or help she could provide. Doris is truly a very giving and loving woman.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, William (Bill) Morgan Todd; brothers, Durant Mark, Melvin Dansby; grandchild, Lee Ann Palermo; and her parents.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Frank Palermo, Linda and Robert Flesher; grandchildren, Robert Todd (Trey) Flesher, Stephanie Elam and husband Brandon, Richard William Flesher; and great grandchildren, Eden and Grace Elam.
The family would like to thank Compassionate Care Hospice and the staff at the Millican House for the wonderful care they gave to Doris. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the charity of your choice.
View her Book of Memories™ at CallawayJones.com

Condolences

  1. My sincere condolences to Kathy, Frank and the family. Doris Todd was a strong, caring and loving person, never wavering in her support and protection of and for family and friends. Her influence will be evident for generations. I am very grateful to have known her and have benefited from her kindness. Thank you Doris Todd

  2. Linda, Kathy and families: Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sadness. DDT was my other mother when we were young and I will miss her dearly. No matter when I saw her, she was always happy, full of news and always had a little advice to impart! Doris was quite the treasure & I will always cherish my memories of her.

    Love,
    Debbie

  3. I am very sorry to learn of the loss of Doris. She will be dearly missed. It will be so wonderful when our ‘enemy death is brought to nothing’ and we will no longer worry about our loved ones passing away! (1 Corinthians 15:26) I hope the ‘God of all comfort’ will help your family during this sad time. (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)

  4. Kathy,Frank and Family, Our condolences to you. Ms. Todd was one of kind. What a priveldge to have known her. There needs to be more people in this world with a caring heart and hard worker as she was. We know she will betruly missed. May God comfort you in this time of loss. God Bless!
    The Worthington Family Caldwell Texas

  5. Please except my most sincere condolences. My heart is just so broken. “Granny” Todd was by far one of the most amazing women that I have ever known, always strong and so kind no matter what. She was truly a “go-getter” in everything she did. I will forever have such fond memories from her teaching me to crochet and to cross stitch and even playing croquet in her front yard!!To the family, you all have your very own guardian angel looking over you each and every day, she was an amazing woman.

    Amy Zalmanek Deaton

  6. To express our deep sympsthy to you on your loss. We thank Mrs. Todd for serving our country during WW II in the U.S. Navy & being a 23 year member of the American Legion. You were a member of “the greatest generation”. May God’ Speed Be With This Sailor & Her Family.
    cjo

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