Darlos R Aldrich

Darlos “Dot” Aldrich died on June 2, 2016 at the Westview Care Center in Derby, KS. She was 91 years old. She was the youngest of four children born to Blanche (Armour) and Joseph Elvin Westervelt on January 31, 1920 on a farm near Altamont, KS. She attended Altamont Grade School and graduated from Labette County High School. At 17, she meet Kenneth “Kenny” Aldrich and became engaged her senior year in high school. A war bride, they were married on August 21, 1944, in Altamont Methodist Church. The bride wore navy blue and the groom wore white. After high school, Darlos attended a special summer session and received a temporary teacher’s certificate. She taught at a small one room country school until World War II ended. When Kenny got out of the service, they moved to a 240 acre farm a mile and half east of Bush City on the Centerville Rd. Darlos developed rheumatoid arthritis midlife but it did not affect her spunky attitude and her desire to go places. She had multiple surgeries on her hips (twice), knees and elbow. They had four children, Kathleen, Kendal, Dana and Derek. Her family nickname was Rose. In 1957, the house burnt down and the community rallied around them. They rebuilt a brick house and lived there until 1990, when they sold the farm and retired into Harold and Marie Aldrich’s house on West Fourth Street, Garnett. While in the country, Dot was very active in First Baptist Church of Bush City as song leader, Sunday school teacher and deaconess, and as club leader for Selma Flaming Arrow 4-H Club and Anderson County Extension Council. She and Kenny were sponsors for the Youth for Christ Group in the late 70s. Dot was a Royals fan but an avid K.U. Jayhawk Basketball fan as well. After retirement, Dot and Kenny were members of the First Baptist Church of Garnett. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there in 1994. Dot taught an Adult Bible study class for years and hosted a Women’s Bible group in her apartment at Parkside Place Bldg B. In 2001, Dot suffered a stroke but remained living on her own until 2013. She moved to Derby, KS three years ago to assisted care facilities due to declining health. Preceding her in death were her husband, Kenny Aldrich; sons, Dana and Derek Aldrich; grandson, Jason Welton; her parents; brother, Dale Westervelt; and two sisters, Mildred Murphy and Norma Philipy. She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Aldrich Welton, Gladstone, MO; grandsons, John Welton, Gladstone, MO and Eric Welton, Ft. Collins, CO; and oldest son Kendal Aldrich, his wife Janice, Mulvane, KS, granddaughter Kelsey Aldrich, Wichita and grandson Joel Aldrich, Mulvane, KS and daughter in law, Amy (Shaffer) Aldrich, Garnett, KS and granddaughters Caitlin Aldrich, Liberty MO and Miccole Aldrich, Garnett, KS; and two nieces and two nephews and their families. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, on June 8, 2016, at 1:00 p.m., at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, KS with family visitation on Tuesday evening at 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Inurnment will be determined at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation or to the Gideon’s International. You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .