Dolores Carolyn Buehler Hastings was welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven on Thanksgiving Day. She passed away of complications of Alzheimer’s at Sycamore Place in Memphis, Tenn. She was 92 years old. Mrs. Hastings was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Gene Hastings, her parents and her brother, Arthur (Bud) Buehler Jr. Dolores was the matriarch of her family — strong, beautiful, independent and a progressive female role model.
Mrs. Hastings was born Jan. 11, 1928, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and was the eldest daughter of Gladys and Arthur Buehler. She graduated from Morgantown High School in 1945, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University. A lifetime lover of education, Dolores attended Memphis State University where she earned her master’s and doctorate degrees. She was an educator, took pilot instructions and taught at many institutions over the course of her lifetime. Among those are the Baptist School of Nursing, Lambuth University, Union University and the University of Memphis. She worked for Head Start in St. Louis, served as a counselor at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School and was an academic advisor at Southwestern (Rhodes College) in
Memphis.
Mrs. Hastings enjoyed robust, good health nearly all of her life before her treatment for Alzheimer’s around seven years ago. She lived quietly, trading stocks and spending time as a member of the Laurelwood Garden Club and the Kappa Kappa Gamma alumni group. She enjoyed travel and gardening. Family was most important to her and she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandsons. Dolores was a long time member of Christ United Methodist Church of Memphis.
Dolores met the love of her life, Gene, at West Virginia University where they began college after World War II. Dolores and Gene married at Spruce Street United Methodist Church in Morgantown, on Oct. 18, 1949. A beauty queen in her youth, Dolores was beautiful both inside and out. She is survived by her children, Alan Hastings, Carolyn Comella (Gary) and Elizabeth Hastings, all of Memphis, Tenn. Also surviving her are two sisters, Sue Ellen Buehler Ulrey (Steve), of Lake Bluff, Ill., and Barbara Buehler Amsdell, of Ashtabula, Ohio; grandchildren, Jimmy Comella, Betsy Comella McKay, Ted Allendorfer, of Memphis, Tenn., and Dr. Will Allendorfer, of Indiannapolis, Ind.; great-grandsons, Patrick and Michael McKay; and many nieces, nephews and other family members.
Private graveside services will be held at Blaney Cemetery with Pastor Neil Leftwich officiating.
Donations may be made to Blaney Cemetery Fund, 777 Fairchance Road, Morgantown, WV 26508.
Hastings Funeral Home is entrusted with funeral arrangements.
Condolences:
hastingsfuneralhome.com
