Dorothy "Dotts" Vanderbloemen

Dorothy Mae Hall (“Dotts”) Vanderbloemen, 96, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2018.Dotts was born January 16, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late Dr. William C. Hall and Loretta Hall. Dotts attended Ladywood High School and St. Mary’s College and graduated from the John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis.She married Richard Vanderbloemen while he was on active duty with the Navy during World War II.After the war, Dotts and Dick moved from Indiana to Lenoir in 1949, where Dick became a sales representative for Keeler Brass Company.Dotts adapted well to life in the South (except for the grits). Dotts became the involved mother of four active boys, Rich, Bruce, John and Dave. Her focus was on her boys; their schoolwork, sports and other activities came first. The boys and their friends were always around the house playing all sports and drinking mom’s kool-aid.Many pets, dogs and even alligators, were loved or tolerated, and came and went. From her arrival in Lenoir, Dotts enjoyed giving her time to church and community efforts for over 50 years, focusing on St. Francis Catholic Church and the Lenoir Service League where she was one of the earliest members.Dotts was a talented artist and active for decades in the Brush and Palette Club and the Caldwell Arts Council.She enjoyed outings with her many artistic and fun-loving buddies to paint on location.Her passion for creating art ranged from oils to watercolors, with a love of flowers and birds, often with oriental influences. Dotts was also an avid golfer, tennis player and swimmer. She loved hosting and going to bridge clubs with the girls and continued playing bridge into her 90s.She was an absolute joy to be around with her comfortable demeanor and sense of humor, and her constant direction to relax, enjoy life and never worry unnecessarily.Dotts had a keen awareness of the beauty to be found in nature and everywhere in life.She told her boys that whatever you were doing, be sure to “stop and smell the roses.”Annual trips to Sunset Beach with Dick and their cherished friends were her favorite getaways. She will be loved and missed, but always remembered, by her loving family and friends.The world needs more Dotts Vanderbloemens. Dotts was preceded in death by her husband Richard L. Vanderbloemen, Sr. and son, Richard L. Vanderbloemen, Jr.Dotts is survived by her sons and their wives, Bruce (Gwen) Vanderbloemen, of Lenoir, David (Vicki) Vanderbloemen of Morganton and John (Paula) Vanderbloemen of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She is also survived by her grandchildren:Bob (Jaclyn) Vanderbloemen, Laura (Ian) Webb, Mark Vanderbloemen, David Vanderbloemen, William (Adrienne) Vanderbloemen, Brian (Christina) Vanderbloemen, Tom (Sara) Vanderbloemen, Lori (Brad) Queener, Eric Vanderbloemen, Lillian Vanderbloemen, Jennifer (Mark) Wallis, Terra Greene and Shane Greene.Dotts was proud of her eighteen (18) great-grandchildren living in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Maryland, Florida, Massachusetts, and England. The family extends a special “thank you” to Janice Minton for her many years of care and loyal companionship to Dotts, and for the help of her husband, Norval.The family also thanks Melissa Anderson, Shaire Center, and Hospice for their assistance during Dotts’ final year. Father Steve Hoyt of St. Francis Church will preside over the memorial service and celebration of Dotts’ wonderful life, which will be held on Monday, January 7th at 2:00 p.m. at Evans Funeral Service in Lenoir.Interment will immediately follow the service at Blue Ridge Memorial Park. The family will receive guests between 12:30-2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, please consider making contributions to your own favorite charity, or perhaps to the Lenoir Service League, Caldwell Arts Council, or Hospice, in Dotts’ name. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfuneralservice.com Evans Funeral Service is serving the Vanderbloemen Family.