Biography of Dora Emily FOLKER
[Ref. R.25]
| Biography index |  |
Index for FOLKER |
Biography of Dora Emily FOLKER
[Ref. R.25]
| Biography index | |
Index for FOLKER |
Archie was taken into hospital at Taunton late in 1971 suffering with back pains with which he
had been troubled for many years. However, he was then diagnosed as having cancer and he passed
away in February 1972 without having left hospital. Doady handled Archie's
financial affairs most efficiently during his illness and, after his death, had left her
with a selection of shares which she continued to handle with the assistance of
Arthur Aman, Archie's employer. She became eligible for a widows
pension upon Archie's death then full retirement pension the
following year when she reached the age of sixty.
Doady subsequently moved to 26 Edmonsham Road, Verwood in 1974 to be close to her son Malcolm who lived close by. Her daughter Gillian split from her husband, so she and her own daughter Becky came to live with Doady. Gillian then went to live in Fordingbridge with a friend, Peter Tanner, and Becky remained with Doady.
Doady changed back to a mini again, this time it was gold coloured.
Doady's son Malcolm worked locally for a company that undertook contracts all round the country and he would often take Doady with him to give her a trip out. She also flew to Holland with Malcolm and his wife to visit his friends near Amsterdam for a few days.
In 1977 Doady joined Malcolm and his wife's mother in a plan to buy a large house near the river in Fordingbridge. This entailed each selling their own house to raise enough for the new house however, Malcolm's sale fell through and the project floundered. Doady sold her house in 1980 and moved to 1 Mulberry Gardens in Fordingbridge which was in the same terrace that her daughter Gillian lived. Becky remained with Doady after her move until she left home to live with her boy-friend Robert in Fordingbridge in 1990.
Doady changed her car yet again for a second-hand white Austin Metro.
In 1983, Doady went for a holiday in Portugal with Gillian and her partner, John Venning-Goodman. Gillian suffered an anurism in 1989 as a result of which she was unable to continue work or to look after herself so she went to live with Doady after she came out of hospital in 1990. This was only a short while after Gillian's daughter Becky had ceased to live at Doady's home.
In August 1988, Doady's son Malcolm took her on a trip to Holland to visit their friends Hans and Ynskje who lived just outside Amsterdam.
In 1989, Doady was diagnosed with breast cancer for which she underwent surgery at Salisbury Infirmary. Ten years later, she developed cataracts in both eyes and she had these removed at day surgery at Salisbury Hospital, the left eye on 9 April 1998 and the right on 4 February 1999. The latter was not totally successful, leaving Doady with poor vision in the right eye.
Doady's health started to deteriorate due to asthma and osteoporosis, but Gillian's presence in the house meant that she was able to look after her mother. Doady eventually was confined to bed and finally passed away on 11 October 2000. The funeral took place at St.Mary's church Fordingbridge on 17 October and Doady was buried at Stuckton Road cemetery. In her Will, Doady directed that her estate be divided equally between her three children, with small gifts to each of her grandchildren.
| Top of page |