Dorothy Tatum

Dorothy Jean Tatum, 80-year-old life-long Delaware resident, passed away Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville. Mrs. Tatum was born April 4, 1930 in Perry, Oklahoma to Dickson Dawson Dronberger and Jennie Cornelia Nelson-Dronberger. Mrs. Tatum attended schools in Delaware where she graduated with the Class of 1948. On March 19, 1948, she married Joseph Howard Tatum, Jr. in Bartlesville. The two resided in Delaware where Mrs. Tatum worked as a homemaker and nurse aide. She worked as a nurse aide for several years at both the Forrest Manor Nursing Home and at the Nowata Hospital. Mrs. Tatum loved reading. She also spent countless hours in her gardens and canning many of the vegetables that she grew. Mrs. Tatum also loved to cook and sew and is also credited with helping to raise several of her grandchildren as their parents worked. She enjoyed many things, but perhaps what brought her the most enjoyment was spending valuable time with her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Tatum is survived by one son, Billy and his wife Julie Tatum of Delaware; by one daughter, Coceita Collins of Delaware; by one brother, Richard Dronberger of Nowata; by six grandchildren, Kristy Tatum, Kimberly McMahan and her husband Robbie, John Ravellette, Kimberly Vaney and her husband J.D., Justin Collins, and Jared Collins and his wife Heather. She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband; by a daughter, Nuceta Sue; by a son, Dicky Joe; and by a sister, Josie Acres. Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Tatum will be held at 2:00p.m., Friday, October 15, 2010 at the Ball Cemetery in Childers, Oklahoma with Dean Bridges officiating. The family has requested that those wishing to leave memorial contribution in memory of Mrs. Tatum, please remember the Alzheimer's Association. Services have been entrusted to the Benjamin Funeral Service of Nowata.

Visitation Details

Thursday, October 14th, 2010 8:00am - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Friday, October 15th, 2010 8:00am - 11:30am, Benjamin Funeral Home

Service Details

Friday, October 15th, 2010 2:00pm, Ball Cemetery

Interment Details

Ball Cemetery