Doris Bloehm

Doris Bloehm Obituary, 7/19/2013
Doris Bodenstein Bloehm, 84, of Ft. Pierce, Florida, passed away at home on July 15, 2013.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on July 23, 2013 at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1924 Zephyr Avenue in Ft. Pierce. Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 2013 at Haisley Funeral Home, 3015 Okeechobee Road in Ft. Pierce. Burial will follow the funeral at Riverview Cemetery, 1109 North U.S. 1 in Ft. Pierce at 11:30 a.m. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Haisley Funeral Home.

Doris was born in Madison, Florida on October 6, 1928. She graduated from Madison High School and attended one year of college at Stetson University in Deland, FL.

In 1952, a young Doris Bodenstein met 33-year-old “bachelor” Charlie Bloehm. Both being bankers – she in Vero Beach and he in Ft. Pierce – they met in a banking class held in Ft. Pierce. Upon meeting the attractive Miss Bodenstein, Charlie immediately felt an attraction to her but knew he “must play his cards right” lest an unsuccessful date end in an awkward nine months of weekly classes. He waited until the class had ended to begin his courtship. Two years later they married, on November 11, 1954 and in November of 2012 celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary.

Doris began her career as a secretary to then President Warren Haffield of the Indian River Citrus Bank. She received many promotions over the years and when she retired at 65, held the title of Vice President of commercial lending. By then the Bank had changed to First Union, now Wells Fargo. Being a thorough and detailed person, Doris always went the extra mile for her customers who expressed their appreciation through thoughtful thank-you gifts that ran the gamut from trinkets to furniture. One of her daughters was surprised to see two new chairs appear in the living room one Saturday. “Mom, where did those chairs come from?” “Oh, Dr. so-and-so gave them to me. He’s one of my customers,” she said, smiling in delight.

During the time she worked for the Bank, she raised three daughters during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s who saw Mom and Dad holding the same position at separate banks. She taught her daughters by example that it was just as natural for a woman to have a career as a man. Doris was “liberated woman” before the term was coined.

When not working, she enjoyed spending summers with her family at their cottage in North Carolina.
Doris is survived by her husband, Charlie; daughters, Rosalie (Rosie) Bloehm and Theresa (Terry) King; nieces Carol Price and Kim Lybrand; nephew, Fisher Bodenstein and brother, Calvin (Cal) Bodenstein, all who she loved dearly.

Doris is preceded in death by her parents, Robert Nathan and Rosa Lee Bodenstein; her sister Clara Lybrand; her brother Robert Bodenstein, Jr. and her youngest daughter, Susan J. Bloehm.
The family of Doris Bloehm wishes to thank Treasure Coast Hospice for their assistance and support.