Dorothy Marie Mumford's Obituary
Dorothy (Dotty) Marie Mumford
January 11, 1936 – September 5, 2025
Dorothy “Dotty” Marie Mumford, a beloved birder, librarian, and caregiver, passed away peacefully at home in Annapolis, Maryland, on September 5, 2025. She was 89 years old.
Born in McMinnville, Oregon, on January 11, 1936, Dotty spent her early childhood in the Pacific Northwest until 1944, when her father, Navy Commander Edgar Royal Mumford, was reassigned to the Naval Postgraduate School, then part of the US Naval Academy. The family relocated, and Annapolis became Dotty’s lifelong home.
Dotty attended Germantown Elementary School and graduated from Annapolis High School in 1954. She remained connected to her classmates, enjoying monthly lunches with them. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from the University of Maryland in 1958. During her college summers, she worked as a Crafts Director for Anne Arundel County YMCA day camps.
After college, Dotty pursued a career as a freelance artist, crafting a wide array of art and handmade items. She also served as a Girl Scout leader, organizing a multi-week camping trip out west with her troop that spanned numerous national parks and states—an unforgettable adventure that bonded the group for life.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Dotty worked at Anne Arundel General Hospital in downtown Annapolis as the Nursing Librarian from 1966 to 1969. During this time, she earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Maryland and subsequently became the hospital’s full-time Librarian.
Dotty’s love for animals was a defining part of her life. She owned a horse named Major, whom she rode with joy and shared with her nieces and nephews during family reunions. Her beagle, Loverly, was a faithful companion who accompanied her on a move to Washington State, where she sought to “escape the humidity of Maryland for a while.” During that time, Dotty worked at the Mid-Columbia Regional Library in Kennewick from 1971 to 1978.
Dotty returned to Annapolis in 1979 to care for her aging parents, providing devoted support until their passing—her mother Violet Coe Mumford in 1984 and her father Edgar Royal Mumford in 1992. Afterward, she remained active in the community, volunteering for various organizations and staying fit as an enthusiastic member of the “Annapolis Mall Walkers,” with whom she also shared regular lunches.
Her passion for nature and birding led her to volunteer at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, where she was honored as “Top Volunteer” in 1997 and helped compile their Checklist of Birds. A lifelong birder, Dotty was a dedicated member of the Anne Arundel Bird Club (AABC) and the Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS). She participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count for many years, braving the cold to contribute to citizen science, and was a Newsletter Editor for AABC. She also volunteered at MOS’s Irish Grove Sanctuary in Somerset County.
Dotty was strong and fiercely independent, always determined to live life on her own terms. Her final wish was to remain in her home, surrounded by the memories and comforts she loved. Thanks to the devoted care of her family – especially Eileen Mumford, her nephew David’s wife – she was able to do so with dignity and grace.
Dotty was predeceased by her parents, Edgar Royal Mumford and Violet Coe Mumford; her sister Katherine Cave; and her brothers Charles Mumford and Willard Mumford. She is survived by her sister-in-law Elaine Mumford, along with many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great grand- nephews, and a great grand-niece who will carry forward her legacy of kindness, creativity, and love of the outdoors.
Dotty’s life was one of service, art, and love—for her community, for nature, and for the people and animals who filled her days. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
The family will gather privately to honor Dotty’s life. Donations in her honor can be made to Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Bird Club, or a charitable organization of your choice.
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