Mrs Dorothy Francis Obrochta's Obituary
Dorothy Tyler Obrochta
August 18, 1947 to November 13, 2023
Dorothy Obrochta was born and raised in Madison Heights, Virginia, the daughter of Stephen and Mary Cabiness Tyler. She graduated from Amherst County High School in 1965 where she learned to play the French horn and attended Randolph-Macon Women’s College (now Randolph College) in Lynchburg, Virginia, graduating in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. While in college, she played horn with the Lynchburg Fine Arts Orchestra.
Dorothy met Andy Obrochta in 1966 when they signed up for a computer dating service and apparently lied to the same questions the same way. This was back when computer programs used hole-punch cards. They were married June 14, 1969, one week after her graduation and two weeks after his. The reception was held in her back yard with her uncle Tony Cerillo providing a homemade wedding cake.
Dorothy and Andy lived in Charlottesville, Virginia, for a short time while Andy completed his master’s at the University of Virginia. From there they moved to Fort Worth Texas, where their son Steve was born in 1973. Andy transferred from the Fort Worth District Corps of Engineers to the Tulsa District in 1978. They have lived in Tulsa ever since.
While in Tulsa, Dorothy attended the University of Tulsa where she earned a second BA degree, Magna Cum Laude, in 1984 and an MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology in 1986. She co-authored several papers including one on predictors of intent to change doctors, which she affectionately referred to as the “happy doc” paper.
On February 25, 2023 Dorothy was admitted to the hospital with severe abdominal pain, and a malignant tumor was surgically removed from her pancreas on the second of March. She had chemo and radiation but eventually succumbed to the cancer.
Dorothy attended Tulsa Christian Fellowship the entire time she lived in Tulsa. She is survived by her husband Andy, her son, Stephen (and wife Sato), of Akita Japan, her sister Beth (and husband Derek) of Laurel Bloomery, NC, and 6 nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her identical twin sister Marian.
In accordance with her wishes, her body has been cremated. There will be a memorial service on December 4 at 10:30 at Tulsa Christian Fellowship. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
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