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Doris C. Null

March 17, 1923 — June 3, 2016

Doris C. Null

STAUNTON, VA…  Doris C. Null, 93, passed away on Friday, June 3, 2016, after a brief illness in the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.  She was born on March 17, 1923, in Staunton, VA, a daughter of the late Lewis J. and Mary Isabel (Cochran) Cook.  Doris was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.  She served on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army and the Valley Mission.  She also worked tirelessly as a volunteer at King’s Daughters Hospital.  Family members include a son and daughter-in-law, Charles A. Null, Jr. and wife Laura of Aldie; three sisters, Sarah C. Mahoney of Lexington, Betty C. Whitmore and Billie Jean Banks of Staunton; two grandchildren and spouses, Christopher Michael Null and Meaghan Ann Olsen; four great grandchildren; three nieces, Susan Alexander and Patricia Collier, and special niece, Beth Lobb and her children, Will and Kaitlyn; and special friends and caregivers, Dr. Elizabeth Peeler Cianciolo and Delores Adair.  A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2016, in Thornrose Cemetery by Rev. Lance Braun.  Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Frederick Street, Staunton, VA 24401."As a child I had a habit of visiting my neighbors, whether they wanted me to or not. Doris and Adolph moved in when I was about ten and, to my great delight, they not only kept a full candy jar but seemed equally glad to see me and so started our lifetime friendship. Eventually they stopped locking their doors as I would just keep ringing the bell or go around back and find them in the yard or in the basement. You know as I was writing this I realized I was probably what most neighbors consider a nightmare or at least reason to move..... not Doris... She was only welcoming and I spent many days and nights in her kitchen, bedroom, yard or porch talking to her as she worked or just visiting. I watched her cook, can, needlepoint, clean, garden, and ... one of her favorite activities.... iron. Her sister Billy and I weren't surprised when an Occupational Therapist asked her a few years ago what she liked to do and she responded...."Well I like to iron." I don't think they make women like that anymore. As time went by Doris shared her activities of the day as I shared mine and over the next forty-some years we shared our plans, hopes, fears, joys, failures, successes, hair styles and .... some of the best jokes that we ever heard. We laughed till we cried. Doris was a cheap laugh... and she loved to hear the ridiculous escapades of the neighborhood kids and there were a lot of those...... Doris also had a kind heart and genuinely fretted for people as they went through an illness, a loss, or a hurt. Actually, I would say that Doris was a world class worrier and I think anyone who knew her recognized this. What people may not have recognized was that she equally fretted... over how she could be a better person, Doris even had a page with a list of emergency numbers....beside each type of emergency...death...illness...doubt...weakness..was the number of a Bible verse... She also encouraged me to do the right thing over the years even if she had just laughed as I confessed my latest misbehavior. I'm up here now because I loved Doris and I just wanted to share that the Doris I knew was a good hearted, loving and generous woman and I'm so glad that almost 50 years ago she allowed me through her door and into her heart."
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