• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Generous!We Are Presidential!We Are Having Fun!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Artist Says Laughter and Faith Fuel a Long Life

By Wendy Weichenthal on April 26, 2024

A close up of Dorothy, a white woman with short, white, wavy hair, gold-rimmed oval glasses, blue eyes, and a smile.
Dorothy Weichenthal

In 98 years, Dorothy (Guidus) Weichenthal has experienced a roller coaster of experiences. The secret to her long life, she shares, is “to laugh every day.”

Growing up in the Great Depression and World War II

Weichenthal was born in 1926 and raised in Elmira Heights, N.Y., years before sliced bread was invented. She is the granddaughter of Ukrainian immigrants.

Weichenthal grew up during the Great Depression. She recalls listening to the first news reports about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on the radio with her father on Sunday afternoon of Dec. 7, 1941.

Dorothy graduated from high school at 16 and went to an interior design school in New York City during World War II. When the war ended, though, interior design jobs and many others went to the flood of returning servicemen.

A Mushroom Cloud and Marriage 

Undeterred, Weichenthal worked hard. She met her future husband, Gerhardt (Gary) Weichenthal in her grandmother’s bar in Elmira. When offered a job in California, Dorothy and a girlfriend drove across the country in 1951. On her way, Dorothy saw the mushroom cloud of a nuclear test.

“It really wasn’t that impressive,” Weichenthal reports.

In love, Gary followed her west and proposed. They were married for 61 years until Gary’s death at age 90 in 2013.

Dorothy is a young woman with short, dark hair, a short veil, glasses, a smile, and a silken white gown with a lace overlay. She holds a small bouquet and smiles. Gary is a talll man with dark hair, a smile, a black suit, bbow tie, and white corsage.
Dorothy and Gary Weichenthal on their wedding day.

The couple bought a small farm in Avon, NY. They had five children in ten years. While Gary farmed, worked in factories and hauled lumber, Dorothy cared for the children without modern conveniences.

“Mom is a saint. Not because she is perfect, but because she survived raising five children and did and continues to do so much for us. When one of us became ill, all of us became sick,” son David Weichenthal says. “She was always there when we needed her. We drove her to the brink of sanity, but she came back from the brink with humor and music and art.”

“My children are my best friends,” Dorothy says.

Before 911 was invented, her toddler alerted her to a fire in the barn. Dorothy had to call three different fire departments before one would respond. The barn was a total loss.

Dorothy holds a paring knife as she makes an apple pie.

After being awakened by eager teenagers at 2 a.m. on Christmas morning, Dorothy and Gary created a new family tradition. They opened presents on Christmas Eve before the midnight church service so everyone could sleep in the next day.

Dorothy was never afraid to push for change. Dorothy organized her neighbors to successfully change their road from Swamp Street to Garden Street, a name inspired by Dorothy’s life-long passion.

Buying a Business and Moving to Marion


The Weichenthals moved to Marion, Ohio in the 1973 when they purchased the Beltone Hearing Aid agency. They opened an office on Main Street. Their adult sons cared for the family farm and attended college. Son Doug Weichenthal continues to farm there.

Dorothy loved living in Marion with its plentiful, convenient shopping and friendly neighbors. They built a home on Mayfield Drive and raised their three daughters: Susan, Patty and Joan. In 1980, son David moved his family to Marion to join Beltone.

Thriving in Retirement 

Dorothy displays two of her paintings.

In retirement, Dorothy thrived. She started painting, sculpting and wood carving. Her art has graced magazine covers and hung in museums. She won grants to create a painter’s group and classes. She loves square dancing and music, though she prefers Big Band to modern artists.

When the Weichenthals returned to Avon in the 1990s, Dorothy started a writer’s group, which she participates in over Zoom when she is traveling. She wrote a book of poetry. She and Gary enjoyed many Elderhostel educational trips. Water aerobics helped her stay active.

Dorothy and her sculpture of her husband.

Weichenthal has always loved reading and learning. She recently started Facetiming her children and grandchildren on an iPhone. She uses an iPad to check Facebook. Weichenthal is still a fierce card player, often beating her children and grandchildren at Rummy and Euchre.

While life has not been easy, Dorothy keeps a positive attitude and strong faith.

“Mom has underlying resilient toughness forged by life’s trials,” David said. 

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Random Acts of Kindness

    RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY Friday, February 17, is Random Acts of Kindness Day.  In Marion, the Marion Police Department is all over it. They have partnered with students of the Multicultural Club of Marion Harding High School to get out and spread kindness today. The officers and students are visiting residents in Marion area […]Read More »
  • Leapin’ Outreach Center Asks for Community Help to Open New Shelter

    The volunteers running the Leapin’ Outreach Center are working diligently to open a 100-bed shelter for homeless men and women in Marion. They are asking local volunteers and donors to step up and help complete this project. “We’re doing workdays on the third Saturday of each month,” said Regan Hensel of Marion. “We could really […]Read More »
  • Prospect Community Churches

    FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP UNITE PROSPECT COMMUNITY. The four Prospect community churches are following the model found in Matthew 25:35: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. The churches – Community Christian Fellowship, […]Read More »
  • Marion Area Orchestra

    Believing in Local Music Marion Area Orchestra (MAO) is an amateur string orchestra founded to provide a musical performance outlet for violinists, violists, cellists and bassists in the Marion, Ohio area.  Some of the volunteers are local school orchestra members and home schooled young people, but mostly adults numbering forty-three total people at this time. […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image