Dorothea Pauline 'Thea' Darwall, 84
Dorothea Pauline "Thea" Darwall, 84, of Kalispell, died of natural causes at Brendan House on Feb. 25, 2006. She died peacefully with her daughter Jana at her side.
Thea was born Aug. 6, 1921, in Webster Groves, Mo., to Wilhelmina and the Rev. Andrew H.A. Hahn.
As a single, adventurous young woman, Thea served in the Navy during World War II and greatly enjoyed her world travels.
She married Marvin H. Bartlett in 1947. They had three children, Christina, Jana and Marvin Bruce. After the death of her husband, Marvin, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and worked as a school nurse while her three children were in grade school.
She moved the family to San Antonio in 1958. There she met and married Robert L. Darwall, whose three children - Stephen, Randy and Mary - she loved as her own. They all moved to Michigan where Thea continued her nursing career.
One of the highlights of her life was hiking the John Muir trail in California with her beloved husband, Bob. After his death in 1975, she moved to Montana where she enjoyed many years of hiking and spending time with her daughter Jana and grandsons Barley and Liam.
She worked in public-health nursing until her retirement as supervisor of the Flathead County Home Health Department.
Two of Thea's greatest pleasures were hiking and cross-country skiing. When she no longer could keep up those activities, a great game of Scrabble, a challenging book, movie or play, were all high on her list.
Thea cared deeply about and was actively involved in women's rights - indeed, equal rights for all - and protecting the environment. "Intelligent, classy, warm and feisty" are words that well describe our beloved friend and mother.
She requested there be no memorial service.
Suggested memorial donations are: AAUW c/o Jane Lopp, P.O. Box 7547, Kalispell, MT 59904; Flathead Audubon Society, c/o Bruce Tannehill (treasurer), 239 Deer Trail, Whitefish, MT 59937; and the Flathead Land Trust, P.O. Box 1913, Kalispell, MT 59903.
Thea is survived by her two brothers, Oscar Hahn and Andy Hahn; her six children; and her seven grandsons, Barley Bowler, Liam Bowler, David Kaplan, Julian Darwall, Adam Santangelo, Will Darwall and Adam Funk.