Dorothy Dumas-Fagg

Dorothy Dumas-Fagg, 98, died at Asbury Towers in Greencastle on Jan 11, 2021.

She was born Dorothy Mae Grissom on Dec. 23, 1922 in Cory to Thomas Riley Grissom and Edrie “Bebe” (Johnson) Grissom.

The oldest of five children, Dorothy grew up with her brother Thomas Russell and sisters Norma Jean and Mary Jane. Her youngest sister Nancy was born in 1939.

Dorothy graduated first in her class at Cory High School. At the start of World War II, her family moved to California, and she became a “Rosie the Riveter” working at the Vultee Corporation.

She married Rene A. Dumas of West Terre Haute on Nov. 10, 1943. Their daughter Doree Sue was born in 1944, and their son Dennis Lee was born two years later.

After the war, the family returned to Indiana and in 1969 purchased land near the Lieber State Park outside of Cloverdale. Dorothy built that property into the Blackhawk Family Campground, which is still in operation today.

She became president of the Indiana Campground Owners Association, and in 1987 received an award for outstanding contributions to Indiana’s camping industry.

After Rene’s death in 1991, Dorothy moved to a nearby property with her daughter Doree. In 1993, she married Virgil Fagg, moved to Brazil and started another business, Dorothy’s Quilts and Crafts. After Virgil’s death in 2000, she moved back to the property near Cloverdale.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Rene; second husband Virgil; and siblings Tom, Jean and Jane.

She is survived by daughter Doree (Dumas) Bedwell; son Denny; two grandsons, Darren and Doug Bedwell; and great-granddaughters Morgen and Madeleine Bedwell. She is also survived by stepdaughter Elane (Fagg) Culler and family and by an extended family of cousins, stepcousins, nieces, nephews, former campers and others too numerous to list, whom she loved very dearly.

In accordance with her wishes, no formal services will be held. Cards and letters of remembrance are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that those wishing to commemorate her life do so in whatever way they will find meaningful. One such possibility would be a donation to the Arthritis Foundation, or to Alzheimer’s research, in her memory.