Dorothy Cooksey Obituary

April 29, 1924 - June 28, 2008. Dorothy Jean Cooksey was born in Johnson, Iowa, the third daughter of Frank and Gladys Kurtzweil. The family moved to Perry, Iowa, in 1938. Dorothy was a high school junior there when she met her future husband, Paul J. Cooksey. Paul became a naval carrier fighter pilot and Dorothy and he married in the chapel at the hospital at the Naval Air Station, Atlantic City, New Jersey, on January 26, 1945. They lived in Atlantic City for three months, then in Edenton, North Carolina for three months. Paul's carrier was in the Atlantic fleet and when Germany surrendered, the carrier was transferred to the Pacific fleet. Paul was on leave in Des Moines, Iowa while the carrier was going through the Canal and Japan surrendered. After his discharge from Active Duty, Dorothy worked at Bankers Life in Des Moines while Paul was attending Drake University. After graduation, Paul and Dorothy moved to Spencer, Iowa, where he started his law practice. One of his clients hired Paul to be its regional claim manager in Colorado Springs, and they left Spencer and moved to the Springs in 1955. Dorothy was an accomplished pianist and organist. She was a member of the Christian Church. Every place they lived - Iowa, Colorado and California - she was active in volunteer activities. In California, she was named volunteer of the year and received an appropriate trophy. She is survived by her husband, Paul, her son David, and her daughter, Martha.