Zula Mae (Spencer) Dobbins

TRINITY – Zula Spencer Dobbins, 95, passed away Sunday, August 11, 2019, at Graybrier Nursing Center.

She was born July 27, 1924, in High Point and was the daughter of the late Fred D. and Mary Teague Spencer.  Zula graduated from High Point High School in 1941 and continued her education at Guilford Business College.

She began her career in Washington, DC as a secretary in the War Claims Department and after returning to High Point was a secretary at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Textile Insurance Company, and the Law Offices of Morgan, Byerly, Post, Herring and Keziah.  After retiring, she returned to work as a secretary to the president of Snyder Paper Company.  Zula had also been a member of the former High Point-Thomasville Insurance Women’s Association and the former the High Point Legal Secretary’s Association.

Zula was musically talented and played the piano and organ.  For many years, she was the organist at her home church, Welch Memorial United Methodist Church and taught third and fourth grade Sunday classes there for thirty-five years.  After joining Archdale United Methodist Church, she was a loyal member of the church choir, a member of the United Methodist Women and was awarded the Laity Service Award.

In 1973, she married Charles Weldon Dobbins who survives of the home and they enjoyed many years of travel and visits with friends and family.  She is also survived by her daughter, Mary Lee Hartley (Wayne); two grandsons, W. Craig Hartley, Jr. and Robert Brentley Hartley (Debbie); two great-grandchildren, Trevor Spencer Hartley (Jordynne) and Emma Kaitlyn Hartley; step-sons, Dwight Dobbins (Marsha) and Ronald Dobbins (Kathy); three step-grandchildren, Emily Dobbins, Eric Dobbins (Rebekah) and Fran Dobbins Hill (Matt); two step-great-grandchildren, Corben Hill and Hunter Smith.  Zula was also a special “Granny” to Jill Burger Wiggs (Bryan) and Terry Burger.

Funeral service celebrating Zula’s life will be held 2:00 PM Thursday in the Chapel of Cumby Family Funeral Service in Archdale with Rev. Harold Shives officiating.  Burial will follow at Springfield Friends Meeting Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 pm Thursday at the funeral home prior to the service.

For those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to the Choir Fund at Archdale United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 4096, Archdale, NC  27263; or to Hospice of Randolph County, P.O. Box 9, Asheboro, NC  27215.

The family extends appreciation to the nurses, CNA’s and staff at Graybrier Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and especially to Cindy, Monique, Heather, Emily and Barbara for their kindness.

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