Dorothy Grace Clark Wille
Published 6:00 am Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Dorothy “Dot” Grace Clark Wille passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 8,2008, in Silver City, N.M., her home since 1949, where her husbandestablished his lifelong medical practice. A memorial service washeld on Jan. 12, with the Rev. Robert Braiser officiating.
Dot was born on May 15, 1923, in Ruth, and graduated from RuthHigh School. She graduated in May 1944 magna cum laude from BlueMountain College, a Baptist girl’s school, where she was rememberedas a “classy dresser” and a “wholesome beauty.” She immediatelyenrolled and completed two years of medical school at Ole Miss andwas accepted at the University of Virginia Medical School, but onNov. 10, 1945, she curtailed her medical pursuit when she marriedher Ole Miss classmate, Roy Charles Wille. After completion of hiswork at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pa., andinternship in Houston, Texas, they, with their 3-month-olddaughter, Mary Linda, moved to Silver City. Dr. Wille served twoyears as an Army doctor in postwar Germany while Dot and Lindaresided with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Clark in Ruth. In May1952, they joined Dr. Wille in Germany and upon completion of hislast three months of duty, they returned to Silver City where Dr.Wille resumed his medical practice and they reared theirfamily.
Mrs. Wille was a member of the Woman’s Club, a charter member ofthe Twenty Four Club and a member of First Baptist Church, whereshe is fondly remembered by the women’s Senior Sunday School Classas an excellent Bible teacher, a gracious hostess and cook. She wasan avid reader, a coin collector, for several years a golfer, andloved her dachshund dogs.
Mrs. Wille is survived by her husband of 62 years, Roy Charles;her daughters, Mary Linda Deblois and husband Jim, of Albuquerque,Elizabeth “Liz” Grace Blancett and husband Joe, of Silver City; ason, Roy Clark Wille, of Albuquerque; and a sister, Martha ClarkSinclair and husband Jim, of Brookhaven.
Mrs. Wille was preceded in death by her parents, Clifton Clarkand Grace Moak Clark, of Ruth; brother, Charles Clark and wifeAlyene, of Ruth; and an infant daughter, Susan Jo Wille.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Swan Street,Silver City, N.M., or the Silver City Public Library.