Dorothy Ann Rickaby, age 90, of Adrian, died peacefully Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, surrounded by her family under the care of Hospice of Lenawee in Adrian.
She was born August 1, 1934, in Adrian to Jay B. and Ida A. (Stoll) Tornow. She graduated from Adrian High School. On May 15, 1954, she was married to David H. Rickaby, in Adrian. She was a trailblazing businesswoman who had been employed by First American Title-Burton Abstract Division for 38 years where she was Assistant Vice President and Lenawee County Branch Manager for 17 years, retiring in January 2003.
Dorothy was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, the choir and LLA, and a former Tabea member; an Affiliate Member of the Lenawee County Association of Realtors and a former member of the Business and Professional Women’s Group.
She and David were married for 69 years and produced a beautiful family they raised with faith and love. She took great interest in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and not just in how they were achieving academically, or in sports, but in their faith.
In life and in retirement, they enjoyed travelling with friends and family and over the years took many trips and cruises to Europe, Hawaii, the Caribbean and all across the U.S., especially Up North and to visit family in Wisconsin.
She was always encouraging of others and had a way to make complete strangers feel like life-long friends in an instant. For years she sent anonymous greeting cards to people in the community she noticed had taken great care to beautify their homes and landscaping. She was always incredibly kind and thoughtful. These past few years at the nursing home, she got to know all the staff from the nurses to the aides who did the laundry and would introduce them all to her family and tell them their life story.
She is survived by a son, James (Emma) Rickaby of Adrian; two daughters, Sharon A. Rickaby of Adrian and Mary Gautz of Adrian; four grandchildren, Christopher (Anna) Gautz, Kyle (Teri) Rickaby, Ryan Rickaby and Lynse Rickaby; six great grandchildren, Brandon, Sarah, Olivia, Zayden, Ethan and Marissa; and one sister, Marian Waldvogel of Ida, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband David, a sister, Betty Rockwood and a brother, William Tornow who was killed in WWII.
Funeral services for Dorothy will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Allen Muck officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 14 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery.
You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church. Arrangements were made with the guidance of the Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.