Obituary of Dorothy Gundling

Dorothy Henderson Gundling, age 88, of Port Royal, South Carolina, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2023 at Beaufort Memorial Hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina.  She was predeceased by her loving husband of 38 years, William Hartman Gundling, in 2002, and by her husband of 9 years, Richard Tietz, in 2022.

She leaves behind three children; Patricia Parrish Young (Jim), of Independence, Missouri, Timothy Paul Parrish (Beth), of Blue Springs, Missouri, and Melissa Parrish Welch (Tom), of Beaufort, South Carolina; five grandchildren, Melissa Oberdick McCoy, of Weehawken, New Jersey, Heather Oberdick Alpaugh (Micah), of Blue Springs, Missouri, Kaitlin Jean Scheper, of Charleston, South Carolina, Rachael Marie Scheper, of Charleston, South Carolina, and Jackson Cole Parrish, of Blue Springs, Missouri; two great-grandchildren, William and Eloise Alpaugh, of Blue Springs, Missouri; two sisters, Faith Beers (Bob), of Bradenton, Florida, and Janet Irby (David), of Redmond, Washington and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Dorothy “Dottie” graduated from Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C., in 1952. She attended Graceland University from 1952 to 1953, and graduated from Park College in 1985, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Human Services.

Dottie retired in 1998 from Community of Christ, where she worked in the Presiding Bishopric and the insurance division of the church for almost 30 years. Upon retirement, she and her husband, Bill Gundling, moved to Sun City in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Dottie was active her whole life in the church. She was ordained to the office of Elder, then Seventy in 1993, and Seventy Emeritus in 2017. Through the years, she served in youth and women’s ministries, and lead Women’s Retreats all over the United States. When she moved to South Carolina, she started a congregation in her home and held weekly Sunday services there for over 20 years.

While living in Sun City, she was actively involved in the Suntones singing group, a synchronized swimming group, Bible studies, and reading to the blind. 

Dottie never knew a stranger. She had a welcoming hug for everyone she met. She had a love for people and a servant’s heart.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Summit Grove Community of Christ, Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, Missouri at 3 pm. Visitation will precede the service from 2 to 3 pm.  In Dottie’s honor, donations can be made to the Dementia Society for America.