Douglas ‘Dougie’ Sibbald Dolfie
Jan. 9, 1936 – Dec. 5, 2018
Douglas “Dougie” Sibbald Dolfie passed away at Royal Oaks Manor in Bradbury on Dec. 5, 2018, from complications of heart disease.
Dougie was born Douglas Hungerford Sibbald in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 9, 1936. She was the daughter of Dr. Reginald Spalding Sibbald and Minerva Lawson Sibbald. Her father was the head of the romance language department at Ursinus College in Collegeville. Her mother was a rare woman for her time with a college degree, and a music teacher who later roamed the mountains of West Virginia instructing students in 100 schools.
Dougie graduated from Elkins High School in 1953. During those four years, she was a majorette in the marching band and proudly carried the letter “S” at all performances.
Dougie left for Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, in the fall of 1953 and attended there for two years. She then transferred to West Virginia University in 1955 and joined Chi Omega sorority. While at home for the Christmas holidays in 1953 she met Gordon Lee Dolfie, who was on leave from the Navy. They were married in Elkins on June 9, 1956. Both of them received degrees in May of 1957, Gordon with his M.S. in accounting and Dougie with her B.A. in history. They moved to Philadelphia the following month.
They resided in that area from 1957 until 1970, primarily in the suburb of Springfield. Her son, Gordon Jr., and daughters, Ellen and Martha, were born during this time.
In 1970 the family moved to La Cañada Flintridge, where Gordon worked for Unocal Corp. as director of corporate information services.
Dougie was a member of La Cañada Presbyterian Church, where she and Gordon belonged to the Seafarers Mariner Group. They also very much enjoyed being social members of Oakmont Country Club. She was very active in the community, including membership in the Assistance League of Flintridge, where she was the president and participated in the ALFie Singers and worked at the Bargain Box Thrift Store. She was also a member of the Special Children’s League and Daughters of the American Revolution. Both Dougie and Gordon were long-term supporters of the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association.
Dougie and Gordon traveled the world on Unocal business trips and on many cruises. They visited numerous countries in Europe and Asia and had many interesting stories to tell. Another favorite pastime was attending the annual Dixieland Jazz Jubilee in Sacramento with a group of friends from LCF.
Dougie is survived by her son, Gordon Jr., and his wife, Toni, of El Dorado Hills, California; her daughter, Ellen Pearl, and husband, Ken of Danville, California; her daughter, Martha Gindorf, and husband Steve of West Hills; her grandchildren, Ashley Stewart and husband Adam, Derek Dolfie, Alyson Pearl, Brian Pearl, Ryan Gindorf, and Nicole Gindorf; and other relatives from the Eastern, Midwestern and Southern U.S.
She was predeceased by her husband, Gordon, in 2007, as well as her parents and stepbrother.
Dougie’s memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the La Cañada Presbyterian Church in the Cook Prayer Chapel. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the La Cañada Presbyterian Church Senior Ministries Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association.
