Dorothy Gores

DOROTHY WEBER (BARLOW) GORES

November 15, 1928 - October 26, 2024

Dorothy Gores took her final breath on Saturday afternoon, October 26, 2024, ending a long, adventurous, and impactful life. She was three weeks shy of her 96th Birthday.

Dorothy was a child of the Depression. Her father, Robert E. Weber, was a Grocer. He started the business in St. Paul, moving to Sioux City, Iowa, where Dorothy was born. He moved back to St. Paul in 1942, where he opened Weber's Super Valu, becoming one of the first independent grocery store owners. Dorothy's mother, Catherine Jeffrey Weber, was a homemaker, providing love and support to her businessman husband and two children. Dorothy graduated from Wilson High School, class of 1946, in St. Paul, where she met and later married her first husband of 25 years, Stephen B. Barlow. Dorothy earned a BA in Social Work from Macalester College, Class of 1951. Dorothy and Steve married shortly before her Graduation from Macalester - in September 1950, as Steve was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Korean War. They were stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas, and had their first child, Catherine, in December 1952.

Dorothy lived a life of independent business, as her husband, Steve Barlow, worked for and learned the trade from her father, Bob Weber. Her father got Steve started in his own grocery store, Weber-Barlow Super Valu, which opened in Suburban Minneapolis (Crystal) in February 1957. That store was sold in 1968 to pave the way for Barlow Foods, which opened in Rochester, Minnesota, in July 1969. Then, Dorothy and the family moved to Rochester, where Dorothy continued her community and philanthropic activities. She was active in Christ United Methodist Church. She created a new investment club branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women), gave her time and talent to PEO (a woman's Education Service), and the Rochester Country Club, where she was the original female board member. Dorothy was instrumental in founding the Women's Resource Center and Women's Shelter of Rochester, a testament to her commitment to her community.

Dorothy and Steve divorced in 1978, and she went on to earn her Master's Degree in Psychology from Winona State University. Dorothy later met and married Robert J Gores, DDS., in 1982. They were married for 25 years until Bob passed away in 2007.

Dorothy was an adventurous traveler, seeing places all over the world. She created beauty through her art of rug hooking. Dorothy belonged to a multitude of activities, including book clubs, current event discussions, and water aerobics. She was a kind, loving, and inspirational Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, providing unwavering support to her family. She guided her family toward independent thinking and self-sufficiency.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Catherine Weber, her brother, Robert, Jr. Weber; her Grandchildren, Heather Mestad and Helen Barlow; and her two husbands, Stephen B. Barlow and Robert J Gores.

Dorothy is survived by three children: Catherine L. (Barlow) Mestad (Michael Boysen), Stephen R. Barlow, and Bonnie L. Barlow. She also has five stepchildren, eleven grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, October 31, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN 55901.

Services will be held at Christ United Methodist Church (CUMC) on Friday, November 1, at 11:00 a.m., with a prior visitation at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be served after. CUMC is located at 400 5th Ave. SW Rochester, MN 55902. To view the livestream of Dorothy's service please visit Christ United Methodist Church.

Dorothy will be buried at Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408 at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 4, 2024.

The family requests donations be made to Women's Shelter and Support, Christ United Methodist Church, Mayo Clinic Hospice, or a place of your choosing.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family; to share a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.