Doris “Dori” Eileen (Dunton) Pence

Date of birth  - September 27, 1943

Date of death  - September 4, 2023

Doris Eileen Pence was just shy of her 80th birthday when she passed. She was born in Oregon City, Oregon September 27, 1943 to John and Marjorie Dunton. She joined three-year old brother Larry and was followed by siblings Joan (1946), John Jr., (1949) and Sandra (1956).

They grew up on a 27-acre farm at Liberal where they were largely a self-sufficient household. They had a large vegetable garden, a large orchard of cherries, apples, pears, walnuts and hazelnuts trees, and raised pigs, cattle, milk cows and chickens. Dori learned to work in her grandfather’s and mother’s berry fields in the Eldorado area of Mulino, then in the bean fields of neighbors. Her first “out of the field” job was as a fry cook at a restaurant that is now called Alan’s Big Burger.

Dori attended Molalla schools graduating with the class of 1961. She was active in Service Club and Yearbook, earning outstanding awards in both clubs her senior year. She was a member of Future Teachers of America, and in the concert choir where she also was the piano accompanist.

After graduation Dori attended Monmouth College. She met her future husband, David Hauptman, the summer of her high school junior year and was married in June after one year of college. In September of that year, they were in a devastating car accident and David suffered irreparable brain damage. His post graduate year at OSU as a chemical engineer evaporated and Dori took a job with American Yearbook Company in Corvallis where they had made their home. She also became full-time caregiver for David. Sister Joan lived with Dori and David winter/spring term of her freshman year at OSU to watch David while Dori worked, and Dori watched him when Joan had classes.

After spring term, Dori and Dave moved back to Molalla. Dori worked as a part-time USPS mail carrier. David and Dori divorced at which time she returned to school and got her realtor’s license where she excelled with Dunton Realty. It was here that she met Donald Pence, whom she married in March 1976.

Dori found her dream job working with LaReta Chow at Molalla Travel. She not only booked all kinds of travel arrangements to places worldwide, but she also planned group excursions to standard and exotic locations. She and Don were the traveling guides/hosts for 20 to 30 individuals each trip acting as mother hens for the group. Dori also enlisted and took advantage of knowledgably local guides from the countries they visited to explain unique sites, history, foods, and culture. Dori purchased the travel agency business on LaReta’s retirement and continued until she suffered a stroke in 2005 which left her with aphasia and prevented her from continuing to work in the travel industry.

Although Dori didn’t have children of her own, she was the best babysitter to her nieces and nephews! She always had fun and interesting things for them to do! She loved playing pinochle, cribbage, canasta, almost any card game. She loved keeping in touch with friends and family and never missed sending cards for every special occasion. For many years she played the piano and organ for Liberal Community Church and then the Molalla Nazarene Church.

Dori was predeceased by her parents, John and Marjorie Dunton, ex-husband David Hauptman, husband Donald Pence, sister-in-laws Carole Dunton, Cathy Dunton, and great nephew William Everest Deardorff. Dori is survived by brothers Larry and John Dunton, sisters Joan Dunton Deardorff (Gary) and Sandra Dunton Metcalf (Jeff); step daughter Shirley Pence McCleary (Doug), step grandchildren Don Sanchez (Amber), Peter, Heather Kendoll (Eric), Gretchen Gamel (Darryl), Rachael; Brother in law Alan Pence (Dawn); nephews Mike Dunton (Denise), Eric Deardorff (Alyssa) and Kevin Deardorff (Tricia), Jason Dunton (Tammy) and Joshua Dunton; nieces Deb Dunton Sang (Charles) Julie Deardorff Gilkison (Dan), Leah Dunton Greenstein (Joe); Great nieces Sara Buss (Ryan), Emily Berens (Adam), Hannah Chau (Sky), Ashlee Sang (Ousmane), Anna Rose Deardorff, Lauren Gilkison, Aleeza and Talia Greenstein, Avery Deardorff; Great nephews John Dunton (Krista), Kyle and Ryan Gilkison, Evan Deardorff, Jaiden Dunton; many great great nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service is being planned for burial in Willamette National Cemetery. The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers be made in Dori’s name to The Molalla Alumni Scholarship Fund or the Molalla Church of the Nazarene.