Obituary for Doris Arlene Falen (Torbett)
Doris Falen, 90, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2019, at the Atchison Medicalodge, following a brief stay.
Doris Arlene Torbett was born in Atchison, Kansas, on Jul. 16, 1929, the daughter of Jess G. and Helen (Christian) Torbett. She attended Martin Grade School and graduated from Atchison High School in 1947. Doris moved to Los Angeles with her family for a short time before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and she had vivid memories of blackout drills and wearing dog tags to school. Shortly after the war broke out, her family returned to Kansas, and lived temporarily in Kansas City, Kansas, where Doris attended Wyandotte High School before the family returned permanently to Atchison. Doris was a skilled typist and stenographer, and worked as a secretary in Atchison after graduating from high school.
In 1948, Doris's mother conspired with a friend to introduce Doris to a handsome young Kansas boy on leave from the Army Air Corps. One week after the introduction, Doris was engaged to Calvin C. Falen. They were married on April 14, 1949, in Abilene, Kansas. Calvin preceded Doris in death in March of 1987, after 38 years of marriage and four children.
Doris was a lifelong, active member of the First Christian Church in Atchison, having served as a board member, deacon, and member of the Christian Women's Fellowship. Doris was the enthusiastic organizer of the CWF's annual church rummage sale for many years, and she generously gave her time as an election worker and a volunteer at the Atchison Depot Museum.
Doris's talents included knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, and stained glass; she was famous for her beautiful stained glass creations, which she shared with friends and family. Doris was an avid reader and a world traveler, having crisscrossed the globe with her dear friend and traveling companion, Betty Lou Dagenais, who preceded her in death.
A son, Mark Falen, preceded Doris in death in August of 1976. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tom Torbett. Survivors include three daughters, Connie Falen of Beverly Hills, Florida; Sandra Falen of Topeka, Brenda Falen of Parkville, Missouri, and her beloved grand-dog, Bella.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 5, 2019 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, with Rev. Matt Broxterman, officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison. Family will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, Thursday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Atchison First Christian Church and may be left in care of the funeral home. Words of comfort and remembrance may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.
Doris Arlene Torbett was born in Atchison, Kansas, on Jul. 16, 1929, the daughter of Jess G. and Helen (Christian) Torbett. She attended Martin Grade School and graduated from Atchison High School in 1947. Doris moved to Los Angeles with her family for a short time before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and she had vivid memories of blackout drills and wearing dog tags to school. Shortly after the war broke out, her family returned to Kansas, and lived temporarily in Kansas City, Kansas, where Doris attended Wyandotte High School before the family returned permanently to Atchison. Doris was a skilled typist and stenographer, and worked as a secretary in Atchison after graduating from high school.
In 1948, Doris's mother conspired with a friend to introduce Doris to a handsome young Kansas boy on leave from the Army Air Corps. One week after the introduction, Doris was engaged to Calvin C. Falen. They were married on April 14, 1949, in Abilene, Kansas. Calvin preceded Doris in death in March of 1987, after 38 years of marriage and four children.
Doris was a lifelong, active member of the First Christian Church in Atchison, having served as a board member, deacon, and member of the Christian Women's Fellowship. Doris was the enthusiastic organizer of the CWF's annual church rummage sale for many years, and she generously gave her time as an election worker and a volunteer at the Atchison Depot Museum.
Doris's talents included knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, and stained glass; she was famous for her beautiful stained glass creations, which she shared with friends and family. Doris was an avid reader and a world traveler, having crisscrossed the globe with her dear friend and traveling companion, Betty Lou Dagenais, who preceded her in death.
A son, Mark Falen, preceded Doris in death in August of 1976. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tom Torbett. Survivors include three daughters, Connie Falen of Beverly Hills, Florida; Sandra Falen of Topeka, Brenda Falen of Parkville, Missouri, and her beloved grand-dog, Bella.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 5, 2019 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, with Rev. Matt Broxterman, officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison. Family will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, Thursday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Atchison First Christian Church and may be left in care of the funeral home. Words of comfort and remembrance may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.