Dorothy Hunter

BIOGRAPHY

Hunter was born in Tower Grove South, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on 31 July 1907, to parents George and Ida Danner. Recalling her childhood, she stated that her family “lived simply”, with “moderation” being a lifelong motto. Her father worked for the Meyer Brothers Wholesale Drug Co, and her mother raised four children in a brick house in the Tower Grove South neighborhood in St. Louis.

Growing up, one of her hobbies was playing tennis, and would attend turnverein classes twice a week. Upon completing high school, she attended Harris Teachers College for a few years, before later graduating from Washington University. She began her career by teaching sixth grade students for about 10 years, but would spend the majority of her career teaching third grade at Robinson Elementary School in the Kirkwood School District, which she would do from 1943 until her retirement in 1973.

She met her future husband, Harry Hunter, at a voice studio next to a theater. The couple would marry on 4 January 1930, together having one daughter, Julie, whom Dorothy would outlive. Her husband died in 1964, after 34 years of marriage.

She remained active and healthy into old age, driving her car until she was 102 and keeping up with her friends over email. At the age of 109, she stated that one of the most significant inventions of her life was the washing machine. In her later years, she enjoyed reading mystery novels and listening to music on her large stereo system. At the time of her 110th birthday, she was still able to get up from her wheelchair and walk to the dinner table every day. In 2017, at the age of 110, she was interviewed by writer Jim Merkel, who would include her memories in a book.

Dorothy Hunter died in West County, St. Louis, Missouri, on 22 September 2017, at the age of 110 years, 53 days. She was survived by two grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.