Dorothy Elizabeth Kauffman

Dorothy Elizabeth (Jacobs) Kauffman passed away on March 14, 2026, at the age of 95, at her daughter’s residence in Conway, South Carolina. Born on February 6, 1931, in Concordia, Kansas, to Ross and Jennie (Davis) Jacobs, she graduated from Oregon City High School in Oregon City, Oregon, in 1949.

She married her first husband, James “Tom” Howard, in 1952, and together they lived in Oregon, California, Illinois, Texas, and Pennsylvania while visiting all 48 contiguous United States. Prior to raising her daughters, Dorothy worked in Oregon City and San Jose, California. As her children grew, she built a long career in retail sales. She later returned to Oregon, then to Pennsylvania after the birth of her granddaughter, Amie, before retiring to Conway, South Carolina, where she delighted in the beauty of blooming flowers, especially wisteria.

An avid reader who was skilled in sewing and needlework, Dorothy loved country music and held a special place in her heart for Waylon Jennings. She fulfilled a lifelong dream by visiting Wales and Ireland. Known for her generous spirit, she was a faithful blood donor and a longtime supporter of children’s charities. A lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, she served as both Deacon and Elder.

Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Jill Bechtel of Hamburg, Pennsylvania, and Dolores Franks of Conway, South Carolina, and her granddaughter, Amie Fehntrich of Seattle, Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald R. Kauffman; her first husband, James “Tom” Howard; her sister, Peggy Linder; and her brother, Ralph Jacobs.