Dorothy Marie Wader Dorothy Marie Wader
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Walton's Funerals & Cremations
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
View full message >>>

Obituary for Dorothy Marie Wader

May 7, 1931
Aug. 30, 2016
It is with great sadness that we share with our family and friends the passing of our mother, grandmother and the beloved wife of our dad. Dorothy Wader was a great American, we all love you and will miss you forever.
Dorothy Marie Wader was born May 7, 1931, in San Francisco to Antone (Papa Tony) and Mary Widmar.
She attended Mission High School in San Francisco where she met and later married her husband Richard James Wader. They were married for 65 years. Dorothy and Dick shared an amazing life together traveling all over the world. To Dorothy and Dick there were no problems only solutions.
Married to San Francisco Police officer. Pac 8 basketball official and professional swim coach all at the same time, plus raising four children was handled with love and kindness. Whether it was making the girls dresses for the proms or Cream Tuna for the boys, there was always so much joy and laughter.
Dorothy then turned to her career and became a very successful real estate agent. Working for Frank Howard Allen and Kent Associates, achieving yearly sales of one million plus for ten years straight.
Dorothy then became a travel agent, where she quickly gained a reputation as someone who would bend over backwards to find the best fares and planned wonderful trips for her clients. After she retired she still booked trips for friends and family.
She was a talented musician (piano), an artist, a writer and incredible sports enthusiast. Dorothy and Dick were 49er season ticket holders from 1950 – 2000.
Dorothy leaves behind her loving husband Richard of 65 years, her sister Josephine Nightingale, and her four children, Kimmerly, Reagan, Richard, and Antone.
Dorothy cherished her grandmother and great-grandmother roles and leaves behind her precious Whitney, Tyler, Chelsea, Colin, Eli, Trevor, Jordan and Hayden. Her latest great grandchildren, NovaLee and Cash. She also leaves behind her many close friends at Montreux where she and Richard have resided for the past ten years.
Dorothy. Dot. Dor. Mother. Mom. Geeze. Grams. Grammy Goose. Everyone had a different name for Dorothy Wader because she made a special impression on everyone she met.
To say she was loved and admired is an understatement. She was a woman you would never forget once you spent more than 5 minutes with her. She had her hand on your arm, creating connection, with an occasional slight nudge for emphasis. As she peppered you with questions to learn more about you and your life. She always said, “You know what I hate, people that don’t ask questions.” Whether you were a friend, family member or someone she just met at the grocery store, when you had Dorothy’s attention, you had all of it including her interest, warmth and many opinions.
Memories of my grammie goose flood back in random images, things she’d say, and moments. My favorites aren’t big life changing moments, but the little things that made her unique.
I remember curling up with her, in her zip up light blue robe on her big navy couch at 6am, while others slept, to watch the news or ESPN.
Pops would get up and make us cinnamon sugar toast and we’d continue watching or start working on of the many crossword puzzles that would be on the table.
I remember 10 years of sitting next to her at the 49ers games talking intermittently about what was going on for me at first down (2nd and 8 were reviled words).
I remember driving up to Northstar to go ice skating with my cousins and we put on The Fugees and grammie was up in the front clapping along singing “Wanton Wanton” instead of “One Time.”
There are so many more memories that come to mind that it’s too hard to choose favorites.
When I think of her, I see images of coffee cups, Ralph Lauren (“head to toe”), Ferragamo shoes, gold charm bracelets, Chinese chicken salads with comfort dressing, egg salad sandwiches, Irish Coffees, boxes of chocolates, cashews, crossword puzzles, eagle pins, and the American Flag. Services for Dorothy will be private, however, if you would like to express your condolences or share a special memory, you may visit the Book of Memories at www.walton'sfuneralhomes.com.

Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Dorothy Marie Wader, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Recently Shared Condolences

Recently Shared Stories

Recently Shared Photos