Dorothy Naomi Dalton

Ms. Dorothy Naomi Dalton, 75, of Advance, formerly of Mount Airy, passed away Sunday, December 14, 2008, at her home. Ms. Dalton was born July 24, 1933, in Pulaski County, VA, to the late Pete and Pearlie Mae Tate Meredith. She spent more than 40 years of her life in Mount Airy, where she worked as a waitress at many local restaurants over the years, including The Blue Ridge Restaurant, Southern 500, Billie's Kitchen, Wagon Wheel, and Westwood Diner, to name a few. Those that knew her loved her sense of humor and great beauty. She was a lifelong fan of Elvis Pressley and Hank Thompson and adored former President Bill Clinton. We feel sure Elvis will make our ever-beloved Mom feel welcome and happy to be in heaven. We can hardly wait to see you there, Mom. Save us some peach cobbler, please. Ms. Dalton is survived by two daughters, Bobby Hart and companion, Jim Bruch, of Advance and Rhonda and Robert Reuss of Fennville, MI; two sons and daughters-in-law, Perry and Betty Blankenship of Advance and Curtis and Mary Ellen Blankenship of Valparaiso, IN; four grandchildren, Michelle Reuss of Chicago, IL, Kristy Reuss of Holland MI, Brooke Blankenship and Brian Blankenship, both of Valparaiso, IN; and three sisters, Wilma Arnder, Lois Saad, and Mary Elkins. Dorothy had five beloved "doggies": Charlie, Buffi, Mikey, Balissa, and Luke, all of Advance. In addition to her parents, Ms. Dalton was preceded in death by husbands, Robert Swanson Blankenship and Monfre Leon Strazzante; and seven brothers and sisters, Faye Hummel, Alyeese Taylor, Alma Smith, Elwin Dalton, Clive Dalton, Carl Dalton, and Mawyer Dalton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.