Darlene Chaffin-Dodway

Darlene Chaffin-Dodway, 91, of Port Clinton, Ohio passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at Stein Hospice Care Center in Sandusky, Ohio. She was born on March 15, 1925 in Hepburn, Iowa, the daughter of the late Rudolph C. and Signe M. (Pearson) Westenburg. She was a 1942 graduate of Coin High School in Iowa. She attended college in Terkio, Missouri to become an elementary teacher, but money was tight so she left college and enlisted in the military. She was a veteran of the United States Army working in the medical corps during World War II. There she met her first husband, Charles P. Chaffin, a Battle of Bataan survivor, whom she married on February 25, 1946 and he preceded her in death on November 30, 1947. She married William J. Dodway on December 28, 1976 and he preceded her in death on July 11, 1996. Darlene was a member of Grace Baptist Church, Port Clinton. She loved going to all of her grandchildren's sporting events, especially watching Go Kart Racing. She was an avid Cleveland Cavaliers fan and watched the championship game. Most importantly, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Survivors include her son, Ron (Kathy) Chaffin, Port Clinton; step daughters, Mary Jean (David) Chase and Darlene VanHalsema, all of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lois Drumm, Sterling Heights, Michigan; grandchildren, Rhonda Chaffin (Ron Adkins), Jayson (Kim) Chaffin, Rachel (Jim) Crowe, and Casey Madison who is a close family friend and thought of as another granddaughter; step grandchildren, Lisa Burris, Scott (Heather) Nichelson; great-grandchildren, James Crowe, Ava and Tenley Chaffin, Zach Adkins; and brother, Leslie (Bernita) Westenburg. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; step grandson, Nicholas Burris; great-granddaughter, Jaylah Chaffin; sister, Marvel Larson; and brother, Howard Westenburg. Visitation will be held at Grace Baptist Church, 4650 E. Port Clinton Eastern Road, Port Clinton, Ohio, on Monday, July 11, 2016 from 11am until Funeral Services at 12pm with Pastor Peter Dodd and Pastor Ryan Morter officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, Port Clinton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Baptist Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.neideckerleveckcrosser.com