Dorothy Pliler's Obituary
On January 17, 1916, Dorothy Zerline Caldwell was born in a East Texas logging town that no longer exists (Loraine). She was the last of five children born to Ruby Ester Roberts and William Tanner Caldwell. When her father remarried she was lovingly raised by her stepmother and three more children were born to that marriage.
Dorothy grew up near Waskom where her father managed three lumber mills. After completing all required classes at Waskom High School, she moved to Marshall to live with her older sister, Clara, and graduated with the Marshall High School Class of 1933. She attended East Texas Baptist College and received her business diploma from St. Mary’s Business Academy of Marshall. Following graduation, she was hired by Southwestern Bell as an operator and was employed by Bell until Longview was changed from “number please” method of service to the dial system in the early 1950’s.
One evening she came to Longview with friends to attend a dance. At the dance she met Wiley Pliler. He offered to drive her home and she accepted. During the drive he told her that he would marry her one day. They married on October 4, 1941, at First Methodist Church in Longview and were married over fifty years, until Wiley’s death in 1993.
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Wiley was called to service in the U.S. Navy. When he was stationed in Port Angeles, Washington, Dorothy transferred to Pacific Bell Telephone and joined him. Later he was stationed overseas in the Solomon Islands and Dorothy returned to Longview to live with her mother-in-law. She transferred back to SW Bell and was assigned as long distance operator at Womack Army Hospital where she served for two years. When the war ended she drove to San Diego to join Wiley until he was discharged. They returned home and the next year their daughter, Carol, was born.
Through the years that followed Dorothy worked at Sears operating the first bookkeeping machine at the Longview store and later at Interstate Securities. In 1964 she began working at First Federal Savings and Loan as a teller and was later promoted to Savings Counselor. During her employment with them she earned a certificate of procedures through the University of Texas and was certified through the Institute of Financial Education, East Texas Chapter, of which she served at president in 1979-80. She retired from First Federal in 1981.
She was honored as Woman of the Year three times by chapters of the American Business Womens’ Association. She was a member of Longview Womans Forum where she served as treasurer for many years.
Dorothy was a member of First Methodist Church’s Clyde Hall Sunday School Class and served as treasurer until she was no long able to attend.
An enthusiastic traveler, Dorothy visited South America, Spain, North Africa, Mexico, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Puerto, Rico, Greece, Italy, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland as well as 47 of the 50 states.
Dorothy was a blessing to her loving family and many friends. She was a caring, generous woman with a positive outlook. She enjoyed a good party and loved to dress up and go places. The family and friends of “Grandmama” will miss her irrepressible cheerful nature, the sometimes mischievous sense of humor, and her unforced style and elegance that often made her the gracious center of attention.
In addition to her husband Wiley, she was preceded in death by four sisters and two brothers.
She is survived by her daughter, Carol Molina and her husband Jesse; grandson Steve Pliler and his wife Cyndy Zubko of Carrollton; granddaughter Cyndi Steward Kohfield and her husband Glenn of Austin; great-grandson Tanner Kohfield of Austin; her youngest sister Patsy Caldwell Heard of Elmo, Tx and brother-in-law Bill Monigold of Marshall. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Those who live locally are Ann Leslie Tijerina of Marshall, Dee Clayton Norris of Longview, Larry Arnold of Lake Murvall, Jim Weaver of Longview and her dear friend and neighbor Bob Whitson.
Pallbearers are nephews Bill Monigold, Jr. and Scott Weaver assisted by Jesse, Steven, Glenn and Tanner. Honorary Pallbearers are the members of the Clyde Hall Sunday School Class.
A fitting tribute to Dorothy would be to cheerfully help someone in need.
Service for Dorothy will be held Monday, July 7 at Rosewood Park in Longview at 10 am. A visitation will be held the night before between 5 and 7 pm at Rader Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Longview Community Ministries or First Methodist Church.
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