Dorothy Johnston Alrutz, 88, of McDonald, Mt. Pleasant Township, passed away on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network – Southmont.
Mrs. Alrutz was born on July 3, 1934, in Brownsville, PA, a daughter of the late George and Ethel McCoy Johnston.
Dorothy worked at Don’s Paint and Wallpaper, In McDonald, which she was co-owner with her husband for 20 years. After Don’s Paint & Wallpaper was closed, Dorothy worked as a salesclerk for Sears for 10 years. Dorothy belonged to the Eastern Stars and the Midway Senior Citizens group. Dorothy attended church every Sunday at McDonald Presbyterian. There was truly nothing more important to Dorothy than her family.
Dorothy was lucky enough to marry the love of her life, the late Donald Alrutz. Together they created the life that they had always dreamt of. Dorothy and her husband created a family with their five children. Dorothy loved caring for them and teaching them how to work hard. She was the loving mother that they all needed. When it came time for grandchildren, Dorothy’s whole world changed. An already devoted mother, became an even more devoted grandmother. She loved spending all her time with her grandchildren, they were truly her life. They made her laugh, smile and feel young again. She was the matriarch of their family for so long and now that strong, beautiful, and loving woman is gone but a small piece of her lives on through all of them.
Surviving are her children, Don (Barb) Alrutz, Marlene (Jerry) Thomas, Jerry (Suzi) Alrutz, Kenny (Susie) Alrutz, Patti Ann (Doug) Baird, grandchildren, Erica, Jason, Zach, Chris, Ryan, Matt, Evan and Amy Alrutz, Jared Thomas, Jessica Alrutz Speer, Caitlin Allen, and Dustin Baird, great grandchildren, Gwendolyn and Juliet Speer, Aiden and Wyatt Allen, and Sloane, Anna and Jackson Alrutz, and siblings, Betty Falsetti of New Castle and Debbie Hill of Sacramento, CA.
Along with her parents, Dorothy is preceded in death by her loving husband, Donald Alrutz, and brothers, Ronnie, Paul, Richard and Dale Johnston, and a sister, Sara McCauley.
Friends and family will be received on Sunday, March 12, 2023, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Thomas-Little Funeral Service, Inc., 314 W. Lincoln Ave., McDonald (724-926-2800). A second visitation will be held on Monday, March 13, 2023 from 9-11 a.m. in the Funeral Home, with a service to follow at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Robinson Run Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: Greater Pittsburgh, 2835 E. Carson St., Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, in memory of Dorothy.