Obituary of Dorothy H. O'Loughlin

Dorothy H. O’Loughlin passed away on January 11, 2019.  She was 107 years young.  She is survived by her daughter, Christie O’Loughlin.

Dorothy was born in Malden, Massachusetts on March 11, 1911.  She attended Mount Saint Mary’s Academy in Hookset, New Hampshire and Burdett Business College in Boston.   She worked for the federal government in Boston, New York City, and Fort Devens, Massachusetts, throughout the 1930s.

She married Joseph W. O’Loughlin in 1941, and raised their daughter until he died in 1950.  She then moved from New Jersey to her family’s home in Winthrop, Massachusetts.  She worked for the U.S. Army at Ft. Banks until 1960. She then worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Waltham, and the Offices of Naval Research at both MIT and Harvard University until her federal retirement after 34 years.

She moved to Lacey, Washington in 1980.  She initially volunteered in the North Thurston Public Schools.  However, she quickly discovered the outreach program at the Lacey Timberland Library.  She volunteered there as Outreach Coordinator for the Homebound and Physically Handicapped three days a week for 27 years. She was also the liaison for the Washington Talking Books and Braille Library in Seattle.  In a detailed note that she left about her service she said, “My heart and soul is in this library and I am so proud of all the people…Lacey mayors, librarians, and the staff...”  In 2009, the Timberland Library System created the “Dorothy O’Loughlin Distinguished Volunteer Service Award,” given annually since them.

Dorothy was recognized for her volunteer service by five Lacey mayors and the Lacey City Council.  She also volunteered with the Lacey Sunrise Lions, the Downtown YWCA, and Lakes Elementary School, where she was known as “Grandma Dorothy.” 

In 1986, Gov. Booth Gardner recognized Dorothy’s work with the Washington State Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer.  In 1988, Thurston County named her Citizen of the Year.   In 2001, Dorothy rode in a red Corvette in the Lakefair Parade as the Thurston County representative of the International Year of Volunteers.  She received the President’s Volunteer Service award in 2005.

Representative Brendan Williams (with a little mischief from now Senator Sam Hunt) sponsored House Resolution No. 2005-4635, which listed the overall contributions that she had made at age 94 to the local community.  The Legislative event on her birthday was a total surprise, and the only time her daughter said that she was totally speechless.

Prior to moving to Panorama, the walls of her Vista Village study were covered with the many plaques and awards given to her since 1980.  Dorothy had hundreds of long-time friends and even more acquaintances; she connected often and easily with people wherever she went.  It was commonly agreed among those closest to her that “No one could ‘work a room’ like Dorothy O’Loughlin!”

NO FLOWERS, PLEASE.

Memorial donations may be made to Friends of the Lacey Library.

Please mail checks to:
Friends of the Lacey Library
c/o Lacey Timberland Library
500 College St. SE
Lacey, WA 98503

ATTN: Dorothy O’Loughlin Memorial Fund

A Memorial Service will be scheduled later (likely in March around her birthday) to celebrate Dorothy’s life. Remember your favorite Dorothy stories and be prepared to share them.