Dorothy Marie Bauman

Dorothy Marie Bauman, 93 5/17/19 " 3/10/13 Lakeland: Dorothy Marie Bauman, 93, of Lakeland died on March 10, 2013 from natural causes. Mom was born in Faith, South Dakota to Fred and Selena (Gnat) Bennett, and grew up in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was a part of what has been called, ""The Greatest Generation."" She, her older sister Lorraine, and younger brother Kenneth struggled through the depression, World War II and Korea. Mom worked from age 16 to help support her family after her dad died of appendicitis in the pre-penicillin era. Despite the hardships of her childhood, Mom took violin lessons in high school, joined the school orchestra and played second violin at school concerts. She also danced and acted in school plays before graduating from Aberdeen High School in 1936. Mom went on to attend Northern State Teachers College where she was active in Beta Sigma Phi, serving in many capacities, including president of the chapter. Her varied interests included writing, and she won an award for a short story entitled, ""All the World""s a Stage,"" in the annual Gallett Short Story Contest. She served as president of the Beaux Arts club and her natural talent for art was rewarded with recognition, in particular, for her pastel work, ""Child""s Head."" Mom wound up learning Gregg Shorthand, and left school to work for the FBI in 1939, and subsequently moved with the office to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The FBI would take her to Washington, D.C. in 1943, and to Lima, Peru, in 1945. In 1946 Mom moved to Falconbridge, Ontario, Canada and did some modeling. In 1950, Ken told her about a new agency that was interested in hiring former FBI employees and she moved back to Washington, D.C. and was hired by the CIA. This was fortuitous for us as that""s where she met Jack McVay Bauman, a CIA investigator, and the love of her life, our father. Mom designed a house and helped Dad and the builder erect it on the Occoquan River, near Manassas, Virginia. She and Dad moved to Miami, Florida on an assignment dealing with the communist movement in Guatemala. Mom and Dad had many interesting adventures and assignments with the CIA including a two year assignment in Taipei, Taiwan from 1956-58. In the years following 1954, Mom""s time was mostly spent caring for her family whom she consistently put ahead of her own interests. She and dad had three sons, John, Philip and Patrick. She was always painstakingly careful to treat all three children with equal love and attention. She was frequently complimented on her cooking and baking and she knitted sweaters, hats, and blankets for the family when she found the time. In December 1967, Dad was required to take early retirement after more than 20 years with CIA due to heart illness. They sold their beloved Lake Jackson home and the family ultimately moved to Winter Haven, Florida. Mom and dad enjoyed fresh water bass, and together they kept the family freezer well stocked for fish fry""s when family and friends would gather for good food, fish stories, and music often supplied by dad, who was an accomplished pianist. In her early retirement years Dorothy enjoyed league bowling in Winter Haven, playing bridge with Friday Morning Bridge, as well as with family and friends. She was active in the Friendship Club serving in all officer capacities. She was a life member of the Elks Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary. She also continued as an active member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority in Winter Haven for several years. She continued to live independently and enjoyed good health for nearly twenty years after dad""s passing in 1990. She travelled extensively taking several cruises and tours of foreign lands (including the Panama Canal; the Caribbean; the Orient Express Train tour of Europe, and others). In 2008, she moved to Lakeland, to be closer to Patrick. Since then, she enjoyed a quiet retirement in North Lakeland where she remained active playing bingo and cards and always enjoyed frequent visits from her three sons and their families. Mom is survived by her sons, John (Allison) of Bellevue, Washington, Philip (Tallahassee, Florida), Patrick (Kathie) of Lakeland, Florida and five loving grandchildren, Valerie, Mark, Drew and Jack Bauman of Washington state, and Jill Bauman of Lakeland, Florida. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, a model of faith and patriotism to her family. Having infinite patience and good humor, her disposition was second to none. In all things she was charitable and generous and will remain a bright light in the memories of those who knew her. Surely the world is a better place and we are better people for having been raised by her. We can never thank you enough, Mom! You are sorely missed and in our hearts and prayers. Give Dad a hug for us until we see you again. A funeral mass will be held on Friday March 15, 2013 at 1:30 P.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Service: 03/15/2013 St. Joseph Catholic Church Lakeland Florida