Mrs. Dorothy E. "Dotty" Zeilman, 78, New Knoxville, Ohio, and formerly of Cable, Ohio in Champaign county, died Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at Elmwood Assisted Living of New Bremen.

She was born February 28, 1937, in Urbana, Ohio, the daughter of Charles and Elsie (Lincoln) Bowers. She married John M. Zeilman on June 8, 1956, at the Prout Chapel on the campus of Bowling Green State University. John preceded her in death on November 4, 1993.

She is survived by her children: Charles B. Zeilman of Clearwater, Florida; J. Lincoln (Char) Zeilman of Gunnison, Colorado; Lucy E. (Jerry) Merges of New Knoxville. She is survived by her eight grandchildren: Vic (Heather) Zeilman; Emily (Nick) Giulivo; Hannah Zeilman; Zachary Zeilman; Michael Wood; Molly Zeilman; George Zeilman and Katherine Wood. She is also survived by three step-grandchildren: Kyle Merges; Emily Merges and Nathan Merges. And two great-grandchildren. A sister, Dolly Wisma, survives in Urbana, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband, John.

Dotty was a 1955 graduate of Urbana High School, and a 1959 graduate of Bowling Green State University where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Education.

She was a retired school teacher who taught Physical Education, Health and Biology for many years at Mechanicsburg and Triad School Districts, both in Champaign County, Ohio.

While living in Cable, she was a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician with the North Lewisburg Fire and Rescue Department. After moving to New Knoxville following the death of her husband, she began volunteering at The Way International in the Headquarters' Bookstore for nearly 20 years.

Dotty loved the outdoors very much and liked to fish and garden with her beloved dog, Obadiah by her side. She was particularly proud of her flock of chickens. She was an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals. She greatly enjoyed watching sports, especially when her grandchildren were competing.

Funeral rites will be held 1:00 P.M. Sunday, June 21, 2015, at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, Ohio, Mr. Jerry Jacks, officiant. Private family burial rites will be held.

Friends may call from 9:30 AM until 12:30 P.M. on Sunday at the funeral home, where memorial gifts may be given to the New Knoxville Fire Fighters Association.

Condolences may be sent to Dotty's family via Millerfuneralhomes.net.