Dorothy Merle Gunderson Alford

Dorothy Merle Gunderson Alford, age 83, of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Dorothy was born Aug. 17, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minn., to the late Lloyd and Ellen Millington Gunderson. She received her bachelor’s degree in home economics at the University of Minnesota and was last employed by Millers Department Store as a clothing buyer. Dorothy was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church, where she served as a reader, usher, was in many church circles, volunteered at the fairs, sold trade coffee, and was instrumental in starting the Ecumenical Store House and served since 1982.

Dorothy, along with her husband David, was an avid motorcycle touring enthusiast, having traveled coast to coast in the United States and Canada. Her family has many fond memories and great stories of traveling to many of the national parks where they enjoyed camping and all that the parks had to offer. She was everything to her family, especially her husband, and enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in school soccer, football, chorus, dance recitals, and scouting. Dorothy was a member of the Garden Club of Oak Ridge, Panhellenic, and served as a leader and held may other positions for the Campfire Girls for many years.

In addition to her loving husband of 61.5 years, David Alford III of Oak Ridge, she is survived by her daughter Lindsay Alford Wineka and her husband Mark; son David Robert Alford IV and his wife Brenda; grandchildren, David R. Alford V, Lindsay Silva, Benn Wineka, Sam Wineka and his wife Jenna, Natasha Suttles, and Nick Suttles; and great-grandchildren, Ravin Jenkins, Jeriko Silva, Brycen Howard, and Tycen Tucker.

A funeral service will be held Monday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m. at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge with Pastor Stephen Damos officiating. Interment will follow the service at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church.