Dorothy May Arbour (Gordon)

After celebrating her 103rd birthday with her family on March 29, 2025, Dorothy May Arbour (Gordon) left this life peacefully on May 5, 2025. Dorothy was born at the family home on Rockaway Street in Akron, Ohio, on March 29, 1922, to David P. and Hazel (Kosier) Gordon. She was a graduate of Akron South High School.

During World War II, Dorothy was proud to be a Rosie the Riveter, helping to assemble FG1 and FG2 Super Corsairs for the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation. On February 5, 1945, she married her high school sweetheart, Army Air Corps Staff Sergeant James W. Arbour. Dorothy settled into married life at her new home in Kenmore, where she resided until 2012.

For 28 years, Dorothy was a medical records clerk at Akron General Medical Center (now Cleveland Clinic AGMC), working mostly on the orthopedic floor. An artist who enjoyed working in watercolors and colored pencils, Dorothy shared her talents with her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Dorothy cherished her family, keeping and decorating a welcoming home. She enjoyed hosting delicious home cooked family dinners, where there would always be brownies and ice cream topped with fresh berries for dessert. Her grandchildren still request her famous chicken and dressing casserole for special occasions. When Dorothy gave up cooking, she enjoyed fried chicken, jojo potatoes and coleslaw from Showcase Meats, and her very favorite cheeseburger, onion rings and root beer from Swenson’s.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, James W. Arbour, Sr., sisters, Virginia (Mike) Banas and Faith (Bernie) King, brother, David W. Gordon, Sr. (Gladys), sister-in-law Marilyn (David) Trepanier, nieces Madalyn (Norman) Katz, Jill McNeeley and Connie Gordon (David, Jr.); nephews Jack (Delma) Griffin, Gary (Bonny) Banas, Jerry (Marsha) Gordon and Mark (Marilyn) Gordon. She is survived by sister, Joan Ward, two sons, James W. Arbour, Jr. (Sandy) and Dennis M. Arbour (Carol), five grandchildren, Kiera, Josh, Dan (Kim), Tom (Megan) and Tim, and seven great grandchildren, Callum, Everett, Josephine, Lennox, Weston, Brody and Paige. Dorothy is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, including Tom (Rose) Gordon, Suzanne (Troy) Mineard, David W. Gordon, Jr., Joyce (Mike) Downey, Bernie (Laura) King, Cheryl (John)Aquino, Giselle (Jim) Toy, Carrie Griffin, Donna (Bob) Coontz, David (Anne) Trepanier, Meredith (Pete) Oates, and Renee (Dave) Hannabrink.

The family would like to thank the staff at Stow Glen Retirement Village and The Pavilion in Stow (formerly The Briarwood) for their loving attention, kindness and caring over the years.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 9:45 a.m., at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Road, Seville, Ohio, where she will be interred alongside her husband, Jim. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor Dorothy’s memory, please make a donation to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, www.hospicewr.org.

Details for the post-memorial gathering for family and friends will be announced at a later time.

Arrangements entrusted to Adams Mason Funeral Home (330) 535-9186