Dorothy Kuehn Thiel, 103, of Washington, D.C.

Dorothy K. Thiel, a retired teacher of French and German and former longtime resident of Kingston, died on June 28, 2018, at her home in Washington, D.C. She was 103 years old.

She is survived by her two sons, David Thiel (wife Marilyn Kenny Thiel) of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Roger Thiel (wife Carol Bok) of Washington, D.C. Also by her grandchildren, Rachel Diedrich (husband Roberts “Bobby” Johnson), Elizabeth Thiel (husband Kyle Delamarter), Susannah Thiel, and Andrew Thiel (wife Jessie Wang); great-granddaughters, Thisbe and Iris Delamarter; by her nieces, Martha Pullen, Kathy Peller Fries, Virginia Peller Hasseler, Clara Kuehn and Heidi Kuehn; nephews, Henry Pullen, Richard Peller, Bruce Peller, and Christian Kuehn; and niece-in-law, Betty Schmid.

Dorothy was predeceased by her beloved husband, William A. Thiel, in 1983, and in recent years by her beloved siblings, Irma Pullen, Ruth Peller, Evelyn Peller, and the Rev. Clarence “Ted” Kuehn.

Dorothy was born March 5, 1915 in Glendale, Queens, N.Y., the firstborn child of the Rev. Theodore Kuehn and Martha Henze Kuehn. She was christened Dorothy Clara Elizabeth Kuehn. The family lived in Rome, N.Y., from 1925 to 1938. Dorothy graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1931 and was class valedictorian. In 1935, she received her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from New York State College for Teachers in Albany (now SUNY Albany).

She began her teaching career in western New York state, but moved with her mother and siblings to Kingston after the unexpected death of her father in 1938. Dorothy taught French and German at Kingston High School for many years in the period 1938-1974. She made enduring friendships with many of her fellow teachers and was a strong supporter of public schools.

She married William A. Thiel, a lifelong resident of Kingston, in 1945, after his return from U.S. Army service in World War II, and later interrupted her teaching career to raise their sons. Dorothy retired in 1974 to become a dedicated full-time at-home caregiver to her mother (who died in 1977) and husband in their final years.

Dorothy moved to Colorado Springs in 2000 and to Washington, D.C., in 2009. She was a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kingston, Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs and finally Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Bethesda, Maryland.

Dorothy was a rock of her nuclear family and a connector of her extended family, a loving, caring, generous, Christian friend in all her roles. She maintained connection with a wide range of friends and family by telephone, cards and letters. She lived independently beyond age 100 and never lost her mental sharpness and remarkable long-term memory. She had an unflinching positive outlook on life based on her Christian faith, which gave her strength to overcome adversity and to emphasize love. Throughout her life, she made new friends while remaining committed to old friends.

Her remains will be interred in Montrepose Cemetery in Kingston on Sept. 8, 2018, at 11 a.m. A graveside service will be held there at that time.