Dorothy Marie (Giles) Gravatt

Dorothy M. Gravatt, 75, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 16, 2017, after a short and courageous battle with cancer.

Dot was born in Wilmington, daughter of the late Walter and Ethel (Whitelock) Giles. She was a 1960 graduate of Wilmington High School.

After graduation, she went on to work for Farmer’s Bank. She married Howard “Bud” Gravatt and started their family. In between raising her two daughters, Dot worked as an office manager for a local home improvement company for about 12 years and later as a preschool teacher at Ebenezer United Methodist Church for roughly 11 years. After her daughters were grown, she went to work with Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate where her co-workers became part of her extended family.

In addition to working at Ebenezer United Methodist Church as a preschool teacher, Dot was very involved with the church ministry. She was a member of the Naomi Circle Women’s Outreach and was a board member for the adjoining cemetery.

Dot loved to travel and especially enjoyed family trips to Myrtle Beach. She was known as the life of the party and her outgoing and warm personality endeared her to everyone she met. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Dot is survived by her daughters, Sue Forrest (Joe) and Joy Peoples (Jeff); her grandchildren, Brett and Kelly Forrest, and Elizabeth Peoples; her brother, Jack Giles (Gail); nephews, Rusty, Jeff and Jason Giles; and brothers-in-law, Bob and Ray Gravatt; as well as members of her extended family and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 32 years, Howard “Bud” Gravatt in February 1997.

Dot’s family would like to thank Dr. Shah and his team at the Helen Graham Cancer Center for the outstanding care they provided to her during her battle, and to the nurses and staff at Seasons Hospice Inpatient Unit at Christiana Hospital, for not only caring for Dot, but for the care and compassion they received as well.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 5:00 – 7:00pm on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808. A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, September 22, 2017 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 525 Polly Drummond Hill Road, Newark, DE 19711. Interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery.

Although Dot loved flowers, her family wanted to also provide options for contributions to be made in her memory, either to The Pilot School, 208 Woodlawn Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, or to Ebenezer United Methodist Church at the address listed above.

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