Dorothy Lilian Gates (20 Aug 1931 - 11 Jul 2023)

In loving memory of Dorothy Lilian Gates who sadly passed away on 11th July 2023.

Dorothy was born in Clapham, London on the 20th August 1931 to Jane and Walter Ward, joining her 4 siblings Ellen, Jinnie, Wally and Violet. Her father died when she was a young child. Like many children of her age in London, her childhood was disrupted by war and she was evacuated to Surrey for most of it.

As a young woman she loved going to the Speedway with her friends Doreen and Margaret, travelling all around the country together to see their favourite riders. She also enjoyed going to the theatre and cinema.

It was her friend Doreen who suggested she be a pen-pal to her brother in the army to cheer him up. So Dorothy began writing to George Gates and they married shortly after he left the army and came home. They were married for almost 56 years, until George passed away in 2010. Dorothy and George had 3 children - all girls.

Dorothy had an eclectic range of jobs in her life but the one she talked about most was when as a young woman she worked for some years at the Army and Navy Store in Victoria, in the heart of London.

Dorothy loved animals and this was evident in her adoration of her cherished pets - especially her last dog Ben - in feeding the urban foxes every night in London, in turning vegetarian in her 60's and her sponsorship of, and fundraising for, rescued horses and donkeys.

Dorothy was a committed cryptic crossword buff and completed the crossword religiously every day and won many prizes for her submissions of which she was immensely proud. She had a sense of fun and humour and forever remains young at heart.