Dorothy Dell (Wilson) Heffner

Dorothy Dell Heffner, affectionately known as Momma D to most everyone, passed away peacefully in her sleep during the early morning hours on June 6, 2019, after battling some chronic health issues for the last several years.  She was 88 years old.

Born on January 14, 1931, in Dublin, TX, Dorothy was the only child of Robert Wilson and Abbie Sipes Wilson.  Dorothy grew up in Dublin but would often live in Fort Worth with her beloved Grandmother Kloster who also helped raise her.  She graduated from Dublin High School in 1948.

On April 4, 1953, Dorothy married the love of her life, George Klepper Heffner (originally from Lock Haven, PA), and they celebrated 51 years of marriage until his death July 8, 2004.  Together, they traveled the United States while dad was in the Air Force, and Dorothy loved the military way of life and enjoyed meeting new friends and seeing new places as the Air Force moved them across the country and even to Guam.  George retired from the Air Force after 20 years and 23 days, and Dorothy and George then moved from their North Richland Hills home in 1969 and settled into the town of Alvarado for the remainder of their years. Along the way, they raised five children, enjoyed immensely their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and treasured their time with extended family and numerous friends.  While Dorothy was mom to five, she was Momma D to hundreds, and she deeply loved all those who called her by that name.

Dorothy was a woman of many talents.  Somehow in the midst of raising five children, she cooked, cleaned, painted (many of you probably were gifted some of her artwork), sewed clothes for her and her children, ran the house by herself when George would be on flight missions, restored furniture, decorated her house, hosted Air Force events, led Air Force wives social groups, and she made it all look easy.  She was creative, innovative, and wasn’t afraid to do things differently than others. Many of you were visited by the Dublin Dr. Pepper fairy who left six packs of Dublin DP on your front porch, received a card in the mail that had her own hand drawn artwork on the front, or were the recipient of the many meals she loved to cook and serve for others. She had a servant’s heart and always put others’ needs in front of hers.  In 2013 at the age of 82, she received an appreciation plaque for her years of service on the Johnson County Child Welfare Board.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband George, son Danny, parents Robert and Abbie Wilson, mother-in-law, Violet Klepper, and granddaughter-in-law, Amanda Brooks Ferguson.

Dorothy is survived by the following:  daughter Samm Stroud and husband Kirk, North Richland Hills; son George (Scooter) Heffner and wife Diane, Alvarado; son Bobby Heffner and wife Tracy, Burleson; daughter Haven Isclaw and husband Jimmy, Alvarado.  Grandchildren include Shayne Ferguson, Stoney Stroud, Shane (& Amanda) Stroud, Taylor (& Nate) Graham, Drew (& Hanna) Heffner, Meghan Miller, Jax Isclaw, and Brey Isclaw.  She is also survived by numerous Kloster cousins, great-grandchildren and many “honorary” children and grandchildren, friends to her own children and grandchildren, who call her Momma D.  Momma D was one of the most unselfish, forgiving, loving, and giving angels on this earth, always rooting for the underdog, always giving anyone the benefit of the doubt, and we know now that her reward is that she is happily dancing with George and Jesus and Danny in heaven as we speak. The family is so grateful that the Lord answered her prayers and allowed her to finally “fly away” as she is now pain free and surrounded by loved ones she so dearly missed.

The family would like to thank the Community Hospice of Texas, Alvarado Meadows Nursing Home, and Latriece Cole for keeping mom as comfortable as possible, and also thank the many friends and family who loved our mom like their own.  We appreciate all the outreach through calls, texts, offers of food, and visits. In lieu of flowers, Dorothy would have liked for donations in her memory to be considered for the following: FUMC Alvarado, Bethany Rest Cemetery Association, the Johnson County Child Welfare Board, and the Dublin (TX) Historical Museum.

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