Dorothy Grace Fitzpatrick Stumbaugh was born Jan. 25, 1921, in Dinuba, California, to Elsie (Knuth) and Ray Fitzpatrick. She remembered fondly her early life on the family vineyard with her two older brothers, Kenneth and Larry. The family moved to Bakersfield, where Dorothy graduated from Bakersfield High School and Bakersfield Junior College.

She met her husband, Louis C. Stumbaugh, in high school, where he reportedly won her by taking her flying. Louis was a pilot, flight instructor, test pilot and Air Force officer who served in three wars: from World War II to Korea to Vietnam. Lou and Dorothy travelled the world and lived in Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, and Oadby, England, before his assignment to Vandenburg brought them to Lompoc in the 1970s. They treasured their experiences and many friends.

Dorothy and Lou had a son, Louis K. Stumbaugh, who graduated from high school in Lompoc and operated a pet shop in Santa Maria. His untimely death preceded both his parents.

Dorothy enjoyed drawing and painting and won prizes for her work. An avid gardener, she enjoyed the beautiful climate of Lompoc and was long a member of the Lompoc Valley Botanic and Horticultural Society. She also loved animals and had many favorite pets, including Mr. G, an African grey parrot, and Duke, a Dalmatian. Her sense of humor and enjoyment of life never dimmed.

Slowed by some of the infirmities of age, Dorothy moved to San Diego for her final few years, where a niece and nephew could help care for her. She died peacefully in her bed on Oct. 21, 2016, at 95 years of age, and is missed