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By Helen Ofield, President, Lemon Grove Historical Society
April 26, 2018 (Lemon Grove) -- Dorothy “Dolly” Nottingham, 94, was the first president of the Lemon Grove Historical Society, drafter of its bylaws, writer of its oral history guidelines and, with her late husband Lee Nottingham, a founding member.
Dolly and Lee were synonymous with the can-do spirit that pervaded Lemon Grove and the nation in the post World War II period. They were members of everything. They raised three children here in Lemon Grove schools. They were key to the founding of the town's first park, "Green Spot Park" on Washington Street (today, Lemon Grove Park). They raised money, raised spirits, raised issues and raised cane on behalf of their adopted town. Hardly an issue of the Lemon Grove Review goes by without a mention of the latest Nottingham cause in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Our elegant, witty Dolly was born on Nov. 6, 1923 in Akron, Ohio and grew up in New Jersey. She died on April 2, 2018, the day after Easter, in the hospital with her family around her -- sons Henry and Donald, daughter Holly, in-laws and grandchildren. As Holly notes, "We got to spend Easter together." Please see the attached photo, courtesy of Holly, showing the famous Nottingham smile in 1998. That's what age 75 looks like.
Dolly was remarkable, a mainstay of our town from 1950 onwards. Only when her heart failed at age 94 at home on Costa Bella Street, the famous old area just north of Route 94 that was once part of Lemon Grove, did she require an ambulance.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 2 - 4 p.m. in La Mesa First United Methodist Church, 4690 Palm Street on the corner of Lemon Street.
We welcome your memories and photographs of this great lady.
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