Dorothy Casper

Dorothy Casper, 91, of Gainesville, Georgia (formerly of Watkinsville) passed away on August 25, 2021.

She was the daughter of Loyd A. “Buck” Thornton and Mildred Lord Thornton, born in Bogart, and attended school in the Oconee County school system. She attended the University of Georgia for two years and then began teaching school at Carithers Elementary in Oconee County. Toward the end of the second year of teaching she married a high school classmate, Ray Casper, who had enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Argentia, Newfoundland. Her husband’s Navy orders resulted in family moves to new locations, allowing her to teach in different school systems which broadened her scope of knowledge and familiarity with other area peculiarities; Brunswick, Georgia and Mayport, Florida were two of those. Later she attended Memphis State University and received her BSED while her husband was serving with the Navy at Millington, Tennessee. During her husband’s assignment with the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia, she received her MED through the Teacher Corps program at the University of Georgia, while continuing her teaching career in the Clarke County School System until her retirement after 30 years of service.

In addition to teaching and raising a family of three sons, she was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa – Fidelis Nu, Athens Woman’s Club, Athens Area Retired Educators Association, Georgia Retired Educators Association, National Retired Teachers Association, and long-time member of Forest Heights Baptist Church until moving to Watkinsville where she was a member of Watkinsville First Baptist Church.
She was devoted to her family and set a good example by her actions and encouraged her children and grandchildren to prepare for life by educating themselves and being good citizens.

The Navy life presented opportunities for the family to see other parts of the world and develop a yen for travel – so civilian life travels included most of the states, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, South America, North Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and many of the other Caribbean islands.

She and her husband, Ray, died on the same day and they would have been married 70 years on Christmas Day this year. Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Lugene Casper of Gainesville; son, Kenny Casper and Connie Hayes of Arnoldsville; five grandchildren, Richie and Yukari Casper of Tokyo, Japan; Ryan and Catherine Casper of Gainesville, GA; Kristin Casper of Columbus, GA; Brittanae Casper of New York, NY; and Cheyenne and Brandon Fuqua of Yanceyville, NC; four great grandchildren, Caleigh, Ansley Cate and Olivia Casper and Chandler Fuqua; brother, David Thornton; sisters, Juanita Zimmerman and Shirley Nation.

Dorothy was predeceased by her father, mother and brothers, Bobby J. Thornton, Loyd Thornton, Eugene Thornton; and sister, Mary Zimmerman.

Funeral services will be Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 3:00 PM at the chapel of Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST. Entombment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 1:30 until 3:00 PM at the funeral home.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com