Dorothy Leah Habig

Dorothy Leah (Grigsby) Habig joined her high school sweetheart, Louis C. Habig, early in the morning of January 14, 2021 in eternal life.  She was pre-deceased by her parents, Edith (Utt) and Carl R. Grigsby, her husband, Louis C. Habig, her younger brother, C. Harold Grigsby, and one niece.  She is survived by her sons, John (Jenny) and Steven (Anne); grandchildren, Heath (Eunice), Heather (Keith), and Alex (Alyssa); great-grandchildren, Kellen, and Elsa; sister, E. Louise Grigsby; and many nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews.

As the first born child of Edith and Carl Grigsby, she started her century long journey in Terre Haute, Indiana, on May 9, 1920, continuing thru the Great Depression, World War II, the invention of the television, going to the moon, the use of personal computers, and even Skype.

Her life in Bicknell, Indiana, began as the daughter of a math and science high school teacher and transitioned in the mid-1930’s to the daughter of an owner of a grocery store, which her father had acquired in the Fountain Square area of Indianapolis.  She started on her journey into the education field as a student at Arsenal Technical High School while working after school in her parents’ store.  While at Tech, she honed her love of piano, which followed her all her life — even to her days of living in her senior community, American Village, where she presented all sorts of musical programs (that often included sing-a-longs) until her eyesight prevented her from reading the music.  An A student, she graduated from Tech in June of 1938 and was granted a two-year scholarship to Butler Teacher’s College that started Dorothy on the path of higher learning even as Louis joined the Army in 1941 (before the bombing of Pearl Harbor).  Dorothy completed her undergraduate work at Butler in 1942 as a member of Kappa Delta Pi (an international honor society in education) and president of Butler’s Educational Council.  She then started her career as an educator with Indianapolis Public School system.

In May of 1943, while Staff Sergeant Louis Habig was home on leave, the couple married.  They honeymooned at McCormick’s Creeks State Park by borrowing both a borrowed car and ration coupons.  Dorothy went with Louis to his base in Florida where she sold jewelry.  When Louis shipped out (just missed D-day – but not the Battle of the Bulge), she returned to Indianapolis and teaching.  When Louis returned, they set about starting a family of two boys, John, and Steve.  Dorothy was a stay-at-home-mom until Steve, the youngest, started school.  But she still was active with the education of young people serving as a Campfire Girls leader taking the boys with her on field trips.  She returned to teaching at IPS 81, Parkview Elementary, the school that the boys attended, when Steve was in 3^rd grade.  They all walked to and from school – coming home for lunch every day.  Steve even was lucky enough to have his mother as his 4^th grade teacher.  Most summers with the boys included a camping trip of some type.  She followed the principal of IPS 81 to one of the new elementary schools on the northeast side of Indianapolis before returning to Butler to finish up a master’s degree in education.  She became a consultant serving many of the IPS elementary schools and finally became a principal at one of the IPS inner city schools.

As Dorothy and Louis became empty nesters – John to the Peace Corps, Army, and marriage – Steve to NYC, Juilliard, and marriage – they started downsizing before retirement.  Once they had both retired (early), they moved to Cicero where they began to enjoy some of the things they missed doing – including travel as well as having their grandchildren visit.  Their travels took them all around the country especially the east coast where the boys had landed – and several countries across the big pond.  Eventually the rigors of country life (think unpaved driveway) caught up with them and they moved back into the city — with John winding up living only a couple of blocks up the street.  A health scare convinced Dorothy that she and Louis should move somewhere they did not have to do so much work or climb as many stairs.  They downsized again and moved into the cottages in American Village – if for no other reason than Dorothy would not have to cook if she did not want to.  As additional health constraints arose, they moved to independent living in the same complex and reduced travel to visiting John’s family for special occasions which was now on the west coast.  Dorothy became the librarian for Lincoln Lodge and the seamstress for those that needed buttons sewed on, pants shortened, or seams repaired.

As her time on earth wound down, she loved to reminisce with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – be it in person, on the phone, or over Skype.  Visits from members of her church (some of whom had been her students) brought light into her eyes.  The children and grandchildren that she had visited now were coming to visit her.

The last year had been exceptionally hard.  Dorothy moved to a wing in American Village where she could get more care.  She was ready to be with her husband Louis.  She knew that her burdens would be laid to rest, she would be free of any pain or suffering, and that we will one day meet again at the feet of her Savior.

The family is grateful for the staff at the American Village complex over the past 20 years – especially the last two years after Dorothy started losing some of her independence.  Thank you to all!

A Celebration of Life will be held by the family in the late spring.  Dorothy would have liked any donations made in her memory to go to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Music Ministry, 100 W. 86^th Street, Indianapolis IN 46260.