Dorothy H. Yunker

Dorothy H. Yunker, of Howe, Indiana, passed away peacefully at her home on March 9, 2026.

Born on February 3, 1939, in Fawn River Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan, to Harold and Harriett “Vinnie” (Ruhl) McKee, Dorothy spent most of her life in the Howe area. A proud 1957 graduate of Lima High School, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Education from Western Michigan University. For many years she worked alongside her husband, Phil, at the Howe-LaGrange Insurance Agency, forming lasting relationships with families throughout the community. She also served as a probation officer in LaGrange County.

Dorothy was a longtime active member of Lima Presbyterian Church in Howe and belonged to the Howe Philomaths, an organization dedicated to fellowship and learning. She found deep satisfaction in life’s quieter joys—tending her garden, reading, and preparing meals for her family. Her home was a warm gathering place where loved ones came together and memories were made.

On June 27, 1959, in Howe, Indiana, Dorothy married Philip E. Yunker, Jr. They shared many happy years together until his passing on May 15, 2017. She is survived by her three daughters, Lisa Wixon of Canton, Michigan, Cheryl Yunker of Brunswick, Georgia, and Kimberly (Jason) Shelley of Indianapolis, Indiana; her son, Philip E. (Tara Gordon) Yunker III of Indianapolis, Indiana; and three grandchildren, Henry and Alex Shelley and Bailey Wixon, who brought her great pride and joy. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Margaret Janet Torgensen.