Doris Dredge Lufkin

Doris Dredge Lufkin 90, of Indianapolis was born January 25, 1923 and passed away on March 5, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Lufkin, Jr., her daughter, Susan Lufkin, sisters, Vara Reed and Beth Bergeson and a brother, Robert Dredge. Surviving to cherish her memory are her children, Sally Lufkin, John Lufkin and Larry Lufkin, 3 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday March 23, 2013 at Flanner and Buchanan – Washington Park East, 10722 E. Washington St., Indianapolis. Doris Ruth Lufkin, was born in a small white bungalow on 47th street in Des Moines, Iowa on January 25, 1923. The year 1923 was early in the decade of the "Roaring Twenties". The armistice ending the "war to end all wars" -- World War I -- had been signed and peace restored to the world five years before. Prosperity once more reigned. Warren G. Harding was President of the United States. At the age of five, the family moved to Batavia, IL where she attended the Batavia School System. Growing up in Batavia brought exciting times when she and her siblings would pick cherries and strawberries for her mother to make cherry pies and strawberry preserves which was such a treat that they looked forward to. In those days, milk was delivered by horse-drawn wagons as was the ice used to put in the ice box to keep the foods cold. Doris, her sister Vara and brother Bob were baptized into the Batavia Congregational Church in 1929 where her dad was the head usher for many years and her mom had the responsibility of every church dinner they had. She spent hours playing "dress up" with old formal clothing which was donated by her aunt Ruth who was very involved in the Des Moines Society. They also enjoyed playing "Jacks" and paper dolls that were cut from the Sunday "funnies". She also liked playing with dolls. Her first was a baby doll and then came another one called Baby Belindy which was her favorite until she received her fabulous Trunkdoll for Christmas when she was 9 or 10. They also enjoyed playing hopscotch, jump rope and swimming in the limestone quarry that was converted into a swimming pool with a surrounding park. At age 10, she joined the Girl Scouts of which she was a member until entering high school. In 1933 the Chicago World's Fair opened, officially entitled "A Century of Progress", it marked 100 years since the founding of the city. She was fortunate to attend the fair on two occasions which she enjoyed very much. She officially became a teenager on January 25, 1936, the year Franklin Roosevelt was elected to his second of four terms as President of the United States. She also entered Batavia High School that year which was a big step with moving from class to class and all of the extracurricular activities that were available. For her there was the Latin Club, Adelionis (Home Ec Club), Girls Athletic Association, band, orchestra and glee club; all to be participated in to the fullest. In addition to being valedictorian, her other claim to fame in those days was being elected state president of the Illinois Home Economics Clubs. She had always been a good student and continued to thrive in this atmosphere. So much so that at the end of the four years she stood the highest in her class, thus making her the Valedictorian. She always loved to sing and make music. My clarinet playing would not have given Benny Goodman any competition, although I did ultimately achieved lst chair in the band and orchestra. Her senior year she was the drum majorette. Their orchestra went to the national competition in Indianapolis when she was a junior. A big, big event in their young lives, capped by winning a first place rating. In singing she was better than average and participated in many programs as soloist or a member of a small ensemble, both in school and elsewhere. She sang in church choirs beginning at the age of 8 and finally slipped back into the congregation at age 60, many of these years being one of the choir soloists. Besides babysitting, she worked for her dad packaging powdered soap for the laundry and working part-time for a local florist. She graduated from Batavia High School in 1940. She met George Briggs Lufkin, Jr. in the summer of 1944. In November of 1944 George asked her to marry him and gave her his Alpha Delta Phi fraternity's sweetheart pin, followed at Christmas with a diamond engagement ring. They had a small family wedding in the Thorndike Chapel, a tiny chapel on the campus of the University of Chicago campus, on Chicago's south side, on October 31, 1945. They honeymooned at Spring Mill State Park in southern Indiana. They made their home in Chicago. In 1948 they purchased their first home, a two bedroom bungalow at 176 N. Villa Avenue in Villa Park, Illinois. With their family growing, now having three children, their home wasn't big enough so they purchased a big house a 438 S. Cornell Avenue, still in Villa Park. By 1953, their family was complete with four children. As time permitted her from her child raising and housekeeping, she, too, was busy with other activities. she sang in the church choir at Calvary United Methodist Church (formerly an Evangelical United Brethren church before the final merge with the Methodists), often as a soloist, and occasionally at weddings and funerals. For a period of time she was able to take voice lessons over at Elmhurst College, scrounging from the grocery money to pay for them. They enjoyed traveling and after several trial runs testing their camping abilities and equipment, they went on a three-week trip to the West during the summer of 1960. Their itinerary included the Black Hills of South Dakota, Custer's Last Stand in Montana, Yellowstone, the Tetons, and Rocky Mountain Nation Park. George died in 1964 which left her with the uneven battle of raising three teenagers and a pre-teen. In 1974, more devestation struck for Doris and her family. Susan Jeanne, now twenty-four died from a rampant flu. The virus had settled in the lining of her heart. Doris eventually retired to Cedar City, Utah to be close to her sister. She loved the area. She moved to Indianapolis a few years ago to be close her family. The above is an excerpt from "Doris Days - A Memoir" which our mother wrote secretly with technical assistance from a friend Barbara Chisham in the months leading up to Christmas 2009. The finished project was given to her 3 children and 3 grandchildren as Christmas presents. We were all very surprised, appreciative and proud. I learned many things I did not know previously - #1 son, John. The entire memoir is available in electronic form by contacting John at [email protected] You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, - Sally, John, and Larry Lufkin