Fairfield, Virginia resident Dorothy L. Henderson died August 13, 2020 at Augusta Medical Center after a brief illness.
Dot Henderson was born in Portageville, Missouri on May 1, 1932 to Burl Moody and Gladys Mildred Moody (nee Baynes).
In 1954, she met her husband-to-be, Glenn Henderson, with friends at a local swimming pool in St. Louis, Missouri, where she was working as a telephone operator. After Glenn joined the U. S. Army to serve during the Korean War, they moved to Fairbanks, Alaska. They then moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she began work on her BA before moving to San Diego, California, and finished her degree at San Diego State University.
Dot went on to get her teaching credentials and to start teaching in the San Diego City School system. For 21 years, she taught history, social studies and political science at the junior and senior high school levels. When she assumed responsibility for the senior high gifted education program, she earned her master's in education at USIU with a specialty in gifted education. During this time she became known for her innovative approaches in the classroom, such as a multi-class simulation of the House of Representatives and an in-class re-enactment of World War I trench warfare. She started the local chapter of the Future Educators of America, which continues at the high school to this day.
She was named department head and served multiple terms as a system-wide mentor teacher. In this capacity she was a frequent speaker at system - and state-level education conferences. She was the 1982 DAR Outstanding Teacher of American History and a member of the invitation-only organization of women in education, Alpha Delta Kappa. She also started and funded a scholarship program for meritorious students.
In 1995, Dot and Glenn purchased and began restoring an antebellum house in the historic Shenandoah Valley. Dot became active in the Lexington Woman's Club, the Lexington Newcomer's Club, the Garden Club, the Lexington chapter of the Philanthropic Education Organization, and the League of Women Voters. With her husband, Dot once again started and funded a scholarship program for local students, as well as providing books and supplies for the local elementary school. Using her considerable knowledge of U.S. history, she served as a docent at the Lexington Historical Society.
In addition, she and Glenn have for many years been supporters of global aid organizations such as Heifer International, Medecins Sans Frontieres, and the Smile Train.
Dot is survived and deeply missed by her husband, Glenn; her daughter, Terilyn and her husband, Tim Ryan in Acton, Massachusetts, and their son, Matthew in New York City; and her daughter, Andrea, her husband, Michael Szalay, and their daughter, Clara in Irvine, California.
A memorial service will be held early in the new year. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to a local food bank.
