Dorothea G. Greenawalt

Dorothea Greenawalt, 93, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Ephrata Manor Care Home. Born in Lancaster, she was the loving daughter of Walter McLain Bigler and Mary Elizabeth Ila Kuntz Bigler. She was the widow of Robert W Greenawalt, who passed away in November 2000. She is survived by her daughter, Gail J. Dowle, wife of Stephen C Dowle, Wales, UK. She was predeceased by all her siblings, Jeanette Musselman, Edith Haldeman, Ruth Rinier, Earla Rinier, Vera Eisenberger, Loretta Shoffstall, and her brother, Leroy Bigler. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews, and many more beyond that. Dorothea was a loving, caring person who went out of her way to help others. She gave of herself and asked for nothing in return. She was a member of the Church of the Apostles in Lancaster. She volunteered her services there, making bed pads for the sick and sewing clothing for underprivileged children. She worked in the kitchen during functions and bazaars. She also did sewing repairs as a volunteer for St. Joseph's Hospital. She enjoyed spending time with her family and did many sewing projects for them. She was always available to dog sit and babysit. She enjoyed being around babies and children whenever a sitter was needed. She loved her daughter and showered her with love and affection. She always supported her in every endeavor and was there to hold her hand and dry her tears when things weren't going well. They enjoyed doing things together, like going to the market and shopping. She enjoyed several visits to the UK with her sister, Earla, to see her daughter and take in the sights of London and Bath, or wherever they wanted to go. She and Earla also enjoyed a trip to Europe when her daughter and son-in-law took them to Amsterdam, Luxembourg, and Germany. She was very happy to have a few stamps in the only passport she ever had. She enjoyed many hobbies, including reading mysteries and ghost stories. She had a deep faith in God and read her Bible and attended church regularly when she was able. She enjoyed decorating Easter eggs and decorating them from the inside. She enjoyed doing scenes from the Bible in some of them. She made many for children, including her daughter, that depicted nursery rhymes and children's stories. She also enjoyed her beloved dog Mingo, who used to play ball with her all day, every day. She will be happy to see him in heaven with his ball ready. Early in her marriage, she took care of her mother-in-law, caring for her at the family home until her death. She also helped many neighbors and friends when they were ill. Not only did she visit them, but she also brought them food and helped them with daily tasks. She always made sure she was only a phone call away from anyone. She and her siblings cared for their own father at home after he suffered a stroke, taking turns to spend the night with him and look after his needs. All her siblings had this same caring nature and looked after each other in the same way. Dorothea means Grace of God, and she truly was. She never asked for much from anyone, just visits from friends and family. May she rest forever in the arms of angels and the arms of God, until we meet again.