Dorothy Craig Adelman

Dorothy Craig Adelman of Beckley, WV passed peacefully away, Monday evening, July 12, 2021.

Dorothy was born August 25, 1929, during the very early days of the Great Depression to Loyd Mark and Ada James Craig. She was raised in MacArthur, WV and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1947. She worked for May Office Service in Beckley before moving to Arlington, VA where she began a 30-year career working for the Department of Navy, Secretariat/Headquarters Civilian Personal located at the Navy Annex.

Throughout her life, Dorothy was a strong force who endlessly instilled in her family and the world exactly what it means to be a resilient, outspoken women, especially during challenging moments in life. Through the lives of all the bold women in her family her spirit will continue to shine.

From a young age, Dorothy was a gifted musician. She was a very proud member of the Woodrow Wilson High School’s marching band, jazz band and orchestra. As the band’s star clarinet player, she earned 1st Seat, All State recognition. She also played the saxophone, viola, and piano.

One of Dorothy’s superhero powers was the command of the Singer sewing machine and she became an accomplished seamstress making dozens of dance costumes and tutus for the many dancers in her life. She also enjoyed sewing lovely outfits and fancy dresses for her grand and great children and sewing and crocheting intricate doll clothes.

Dorothy loved roller skating at the MacArthur Roller Rink and watching championship ice skating. She loved her annual trips to Myrtle Beach where she in good fun, humiliated her opponents during the family’s nightly game of putt-putt.

Dorothy’s favorite time of the year was Christmas. She started off holiday preparations in late August making her favorite rum-soaked fruit cake followed by weekend cookie-bakes when dozens of cookies mysteriously disappeared in the freezer until December. She wrapped every gift in whole rolls of scotch tape and giggled with delight when her family complained about never being able to open her packages. She loved driving around town to look at spectacular Christmas lights while listening to holiday songs on the radio.

Dorothy loved strong cups of coffee and conversation, hot fudge sundaes and pot-luck casseroles.

She loved big show tunes and captivating tap dance numbers. She passed away with her family by her side listening to a medley of songs from The Student Prince, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, West Side Story and Singing in the Rain.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, David L. Craig; a son, Richard Dale Fridley, grandson Jason Adelman and her husband of 39 years, Charles Henry Adelman. She is survived by daughters, Patricia L. Almond and Karen A. Mattern; son, Rodney L. Adelman; and all the grands and greats; Paul, Aryn, Kelsey, Valerie, Kymberly, Sean, Dylan, Lizzie, Ella, Dannie, Dakota, Aiden, Camden and Weston. We loved Mother, Mom, Grandma, G-ma and Great-ma dearly and we will miss her quick wit, contagious giggles and dear presence.

Private services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021 in the Calfee Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Vondie L. Cook, II officiating.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, P.O. Box 1472, Beckley, WV 25802



Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home.