Aurora Dora Mendoza entered the kingdom of God Sunday, March 13, 2016.
She was born in Rosebud, Texas on May 12, 1923 to Rufus W. Saenz and Victoria Hernandez Saenz.
Dora grew up in Waco, excelled in mathematics and received a scholarship to Howard Payne College. There she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.
While at Howard Payne she met and married a young Marine (Jesse R. Mendoza) returning from WWII. With both receiving degrees from Howard Payne College, they both accepted their first teaching positions in Edinburg, Texas. After the birth of their first daughter, Dora Jean they moved to Big Springs, Texas accepting jobs at Kate Morrison School.
In 1954 Dora and her husband Jesse relocated to Marion, Ohio where she taught first grade for thirty-one years at Glenwood Elementary, retiring in June of 1979.
Dora as her friends would call her, was a member of Trinity Baptist Church for sixty-two years. There she served faithfully as a Deaconess, a member of the Radar Class, a Sunday School teacher and secretary, High school youth director with Jesse, The Noren Circle, Care Group member, and the Holy Tearers Group (making badges for African Clinics). In the community, she was a member of the American Business Women’s Association and the El Dorado Club. She was an avid designer and seamstress, reader, and full time Grammie to her delightful granddaughter, Kaitlyn and her great granddaughter, Kali Ann Boston. She was a gentle spirit, mild mannered and a gentle Southern Lady who loved the Lord and her family.
She is survived by daughters, Dora Jean Mendoza and her companion, Dr. Joseph Stanko, Ruth Ann Foster of Plant City, Florida, grand daughter, Kaitlyn Ann Boston (Daniel Scott Boston), beloved great granddaughter, Kali Ann Boston of Plant City, Florida, and many nieces & nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Jesse R. Mendoza in March 2001, her brother, Rudy Saenz of Waco, Texas, sisters, Rosie Vasquez of Grand Prairie, Texas & Lillie Hernandez of Waco, Texas, and her beloved son-in-law, Eddie Foster of Plant City, Florida laid to rest March 5, 2016 in Marion Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Thursday, March 17, 2016, at 9:30 AM in the Trinity Baptist Church, followed by a Celebration of Life Service officiated by Dr. Richard Farmer at 10:30 AM followed by burial in the Marion Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to wwwboydbornfuneralhome.com
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