DOROTHY ANN CLAIBORN
1922-2022
Dorothy (DAC to her family) was born in Macomb, Illinois, April 11, 1922, to Walter Harrison Eller and Alice Larson Eller. She passed away of old age on March 16, 2022. She and her brother Harrison grew up in Macomb where her father was a physics professor and band director. She excelled in academics and graduated from high school and college at the respective ages of 16 and 19. As America ramped up for WWII, she taught at various high schools in the Chicago area, worked summers in canning factories and spent time studying in Mexico City. Her adventures are chronicled in a biography written in 2002.
After the war, she married a long-time suiter, Lavern Claiborn and moved to Republic, Missouri to run a drug store with Lavern. Her three boys were born while living in Missouri. Lavern was called back to the army during the Korean conflict and the family followed him to Alabama. Following Lavern’s discharge they moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where Lavern pursued a career in the burgeoning pharmaceutical industry. While she loved Rochester, the family moved to Houston in 1958, where Lavern’s work focused on the Texas Medical Center.
The family enjoyed and prospered in Houston until Lavern’s untimely death in 1973. At that point Dorothy returned to teaching until her retirement. She had a full life in Houston making many friends and pursuing many travel adventures home and abroad. She enjoyed her membership in the Blue Bird Circle. Steve and Barbara Claiborn, Sam (deceased) and Laura Claiborn, and Tom and Sharon Claiborn gave Dorothy five grandsons and one granddaughter. Dorothy also has seven great-grandsons and two great-granddaughters. She loved them all.
Dorothy will be laid to rest next to Lavern at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston. She didn’t want any services but suggested that everyone go spend a day with someone they love. She was fortunate to maintain her mental acuity until the end. She expresses great gratitude for the folks at Brookdale Galleria who looked after her in her final years. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her well. Her family is grateful for her life well-spent.