Dorothy Starwalt Manley

Port Arthur

Dorothy Starwalt Manley was born in Orange, on Feb. 4, 1910, to Alan Eugene and Velma Moore Starwalt. She graduated from Orange High School and attended Spence School in New York City.

Dorothy graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago where she was a Delta Gamma. She returned to Orange to teach school then married her high school sweetheart, Rufus Sumner Manley Jr., in 1939. They saw both coasts of the US during World War II when Rufus was in the Navy.

Dorothy and Rufus returned to Texas to settle in Port Arthur where she lived for almost sixty years. She was active in the Service League, the Tejas Garden Club and St. George’s Episcopal Church. She managed Velma’s Dress Shop in Orange for her mother. Dorothy lived her waning years with her daughter in Rockport, Texas.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus Sumner Manley Jr.

She is survived by her daughter, Pam Wheat-Stranahan and husband, Phil, of Rockport; her son, Rufus S. Manley III, and wife, Laurel of Atlanta; grandchildren, Jim Wheat (Carolyn) of San Antonio, Kathy Wheat Huntsman (Dylan) of San Antonio, Ann Clark (Michael) of Katy, Rufus Sumner Manley IV, of Port Arthur and Leslie Stranahan of Austin; great-grandchildren, Logan DeBusk, Ryan Wheat, Lauren Wheat, Nicholas Huntsman, Matthew Huntsman, Karly Summerlin and Reid Manley; great-great grand-daughter, Braelynn; and a cousin, Rucie Earl Odom, of Orange. The family would like to thank her caregivers in Rockport, Catherine Mercer and Evelyn Mitchell and Inez Christopher in Port Arthur.

Memorials may be made to the Port Arthur Historical Society or the Port Arthur Public Library.

Family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Friday, March 4 Claybar Funeral Home, 504 N. 5th Street, Orange with a graveside service at 3 p.m. on Friday at Evergreen Cemetery.