Dorothy Ann (McLeod) Newberry

Bonita Springs, Florida – Dorothy Ann (McLeod) Newberry died on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, after 105 years of a well-lived and wonderfully full life. She succumbed to injuries related to a fall and passed at Naples Community Hospital with her hand gently held and family by her side.

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on December 24, 1919, the daughter of Robert Willard and Olga (Kovar) McLeod.  Dorothy was a high school graduate and went on to attend business college and work for a reinsurance company, become a homemaker, travel enthusiast, and consummate card player. She was dedicated to her faith and attending church and was a former member of the Lady Elks, P.E.O., and TTT. 

On September 5, 1942, Dorothy married F. Devere Newberry who was her loyal partner for over 66 years until his death in 2008. They spent most of their married life in Muscatine Iowa, working and raising their three children, Carol Ann, Robert Devere, and James Jay.  But, their journey did not start or end there.  In their early years, Dorothy and Devere lived in Lynn, Massachusetts where Devere worked for General Electric (GE).  They also lived in Schenectady, NY; Fort Wayne, IN; Kokomo IN; and Scotia, NY often sharing quarters due to WWII.  Returning to Iowa, they settled in Muscatine, where they became deeply committed community members and parishioners of Wesley United Methodist Church. And based on their love of music, they were members of the church choir.  Very special for the 1970s, they lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for several years on an expatriate assignment. They made fast and life-long friends, and enjoyed the food and culture.  They had a deep interest in people of different backgrounds and visited over 60 countries in their life.  They shared these unique experiences with their family and perhaps without knowing it, infused a natural spirit of adventure, travel, and being generally open, kind, and welcoming to all.  In their later years, they wintered in Lakeland, Florida, and enjoyed being a part of a new community and church.

After Devere passed, Dorothy would showcase her resilience, individual strength, and overall zest for life in every community she lived. Most recently, she lived at the Terraces in Bonita Springs, Florida where everyone knew her, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.  She was an active card player often sought out to join in a game of bridge.  In addition to collecting a few winnings, she also collected friends. You could not walk into the building without someone saying, “Oh, you’re related to Dorothy?  We just love her.”  Or, “We can’t believe she’s 105 years old!”.  This statement varied by the year, but it happened regularly and often.  And, as she should, Dorothy took a certain enjoyment in being incredibly active and able to astound others with her youthful physical and mental state.  To highlight this even more, this is a woman who at 89 visited the archaeologic mound in Tel Megiddo, Israel, and was the first one in the tour group up 80 stairs and down 183; who on her 90th birthday walked 2 miles in high heels to her hotel from the Broadway show Jersey Boys in New York; and hiked up mountains in Costa Rica when she was a mere 93.

Dorothy will be deeply missed by her loving sons Robert (Linda) Newberry; James (Kitty) Newberry, son-in-law Barry (Tecie) Wallman, sister Carol Jean (Wendell) Pribyl, living grandchildren Sarah Wallman (Patrick) O'Hare; Amanda Newberry (Phil) Medsger, Molly Newberry (Robert) Hankins, Monika Newberry Hart, Patrick Newberry, Theresa Newberry Rice, Douglas Newberry; 16 cherished great-grandchildren: Samantha, Ian and Alexandra Wallman; Quinn and Catherine O'Hare; Frederick, Gretchen, and Addie Medsger; Noah and Charlotte Hankins; Gabriel, Grace and Elijah Hart; Erin and Nathan Rice, Connor Newberry; 1 great-great grandson Landon LaBray and many nieces, nephews, cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents; devoted husband F. Devere Newberry, dedicated daughter Carol Newberry (Barry) Wallman, grandson Brian Wallman, great-grandson Vasilis Devere Newberry, sister Mary Ellen (George) Stone, and brother Donald (Evelyn) McLeod.

Visitation for Dorothy will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services, 2907 Mulberry Avenue Muscatine, Iowa 52761.  Funeral Services will follow at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at the funeral home.   Burial will be in Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservices.com.  Memorial donations may be sent in her honor to Wesley United Methodist Church at 400 Iowa Avenue Muscatine, IA 52761.

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