Dorothy E. Lautzenhiser, 93, of Hamilton, Ind. died Friday, June 25, 2010 at Betz Nursing Home in Auburn, Ind.

She was born Feb. 7, 1917 in Edgerton, Ohio, the daughter of L. Earl Alwood and Cordia (Herrick) Alwood.  She was united in marriage to Harold T. Smith in May 1950 at South Bend and he preceded her in death in January 1973. On Jan. 1, 1995, she was united in marriage to Lloyd L. Lautzenhiser in Hamilton, Ind. and he preceded her in death on March 26, 1999.

Dorothy was a 1935 graduate of Hamilton High School.  After graduation, she lived in Niles and moved to Edwardsburg in 1954, returning to Hamilton in 1995.

Dorothy was a member of the Metz Christian Church and the Hamilton Lions Club.
She was the owner of H & H Cleaners in Edwardsburg from 1954 to 1994.  She had been the president of the Edwardsburg Village Council for eight years; past president of the Lions Club of Edwardsburg; past president of the Edwardsburg Business and Professional Women’s Club; and past member of the Ontawa Baptist Church in Edwardsburg.

Surviving are her grandchildren, Mark Smith, of Grand Rapids and Lisa (Scott) MacKenzie, of St. Louis, Mo.; stepdaughters, Elizabeth (Stanley) Gilbert, of Metz, Ind. and Diane (Richard) Brink, of McBain, Mich.; stepsons, John (Debbie) and Gary (Leona) Lautzenhiser, of Hamilton and Lloyd (Silvia) Lautzenhiser, of Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada; one great-granddaughter; 20 step-grandchildren; 39 step-great-grandchildren; three step-great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; two sons, Harry and Thomas Smith; sisters, Zeda Huff and Bernice Reynolds; one brother, Max Alwood; and sister-in-law, Twila Shultz.

Funeral services for Dorothy E. Lautzenhiser will be held Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Metz Christian Church with Pastor Michael Hesterman officiating.

Burial will follow in Carter Cemetery, Hamilton.

Visitation was held at the Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home, 3985 Church St., Hamilton, Ind. on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. with the Hamilton Lions Club Memorial Service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorials in the name of Dorothy E. Lautzenhiser may be made to Leader Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 5000, Rochester, MI 48308 or Gamma Knife, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind., which may be given through the Hamilton Lions Club.

Condolences may be sent to the family and the online guest book may be signed at www.oberlinturnbull.com.