Dorothy Overmiller Harkins

DOROTHY OVERMILLER HARKINS, age 91, of Churchville, died in Upper Chesapeake Medical Center on April 10, 2005. Born in Athol, Kansas, she was the daughter of the late Louis C. and Maude Lavina Carlson Overmiller and the wife of the late Charles Edward Harkins who died in 1954. She was the special friend for 21 years of R. Dock Lee of Churchville. She was a wife, mother, homemaker, active in the community, a Harford County public school teacher for 19 years, and an antique dealer.

Mrs. Harkins’ grandparents were pioneers who homesteaded in Kansas and Nebraska. Three were immigrants from Sweden, Ireland, and Germany. One of her grandmothers was from Virginia. Dorothy’s father was born in a sod house. Her mother rode from Nebraska to Missouri in a covered wagon as a child.

Dorothy was born in Athol, Kansas on March 10, 1914. She grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the oldest of four girls. At age 10, Dorothy taught herself to sew, using her mother’s treadle sewing machine. Soon, she was making her own clothes as well as some for her sisters. Upon her high school graduation, Dorothy went to Oklahoma State University and majored in Home Economics. Early in her freshman year she met Charles Harkins from Street, Maryland. Two years later they were married. After her husband completed his Masters degree, they moved to Annapolis, Maryland where he taught science at Annapolis High School.

Dorothy’s daughters were born in Annapolis. Dorothy related how she and her family were out for a Sunday afternoon drive when they heard on the radio that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. As they returned home, barbed wire was being placed on top of the walls at the Naval Academy.

Dorothy was a conscientious homemaker/citizen during the war. She did without, and even recycled buttons and elastic to reuse on clothing she made. She cooked recipes (found in government pamphlets) that used substitutes for scarce foods. One recipe she tried was for
peanut butter soup. Her husband told her that it was so bad that he would rather have the Germans here than have to eat that soup!

Dorothy made all of the clothes for her and her daughters. She knitted sweaters, mittens, etc. She made slipcovers, draperies, hooked and crocheted rugs for her home.

After a year in St. Mary’s County as principal, Charles Harkins accepted a position as principal of Bel Air High School in 1943. Dorothy was very active in community organizations such as the Democratic Women’s Club, the Business and Professional Woman’s Club, and Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The family lived next to the school on Gordon Street and
Dorothy was often called to substitute teach at the last moment. On one occasion a teacher went to visit her soldier finance in California, got married, and sent a telegram of resignation. Teachers were in very short supply so Dorothy agreed to teach for the remainder of the school year.

There was no secretary during the summer at the high school. After the war when the GI’s returned home and began attending college they would request their high school transcripts. While her husband was away at graduate school, Dorothy would go to the office, type the transcripts, and then take them to the superintendent to sign.

In 1950 Dorothy and Charles bought an old farmhouse in Churchville. Listed on the deed as “Aquilla’s Inheritance”, the oldest portion of the house was built before 1753. The couple did most of the restoration work themselves.

Widowed just before her 40th birthday, Dorothy began teaching at Churchville Elementary School in the fall in 1954. She would later teach at Havre de Grace Elementary and Meadowvale Elementary Schools. Second grade was her favorite teaching assignment. She continued to hear from former students throughout her life.

After several years of summer school and night classes, Dorothy decided to return to college full time. At a time when adult learners were rare on college campuses, she was a senior, one daughter was a junior, and another, a freshman. Earning 42 credits that year, Dorothy
graduated in June 1959. She quickly got her Masters and eventually worked on her PhD.

Returning to Harford County to teach, Dorothy traveled extensively, gardened, and had an active life. She always bought antiques and refinished them.
Retiring in 1976, Dorothy realized her dream of owning an antique business the following year. Her shop, “Aquilla’s Antiques” changed locations over the next 24 years, but is best remembered at the corner of Rt. 22 in Churchville.

In 2001 Dorothy was designated a “Harford Living Treasure”. She continued to be an active member at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. She was a member of DAR. Dorothy continued to garden, planting daffodils and tulips each fall to enjoy in the spring. She sewed and knitted. Recently she made over 100 knit caps for family, friends, and for charities.

Mrs. Harkins is survived by two daughters, Charlsie Harkins Brooks and her husband, LTC Charles W. Brooks, U.S. Army Ret. Of Churchville and Dottie E. Vinopal and her husband, Dr. Howard Vinopal of Jarrettsville; two sisters, Marilee Bogert of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Wanda Lee Kalsu of Kansas City, Missouri; two grandchildren, David Brooks and financee Alice Hillery of Baltimore and Rebecca Brooks McGraw and husband, Perry McGraw of Shelby, North Carolina; and one great-granddaughter, Rebecca Elizabeth McGraw of Shelby, North Carolina. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by one sister, Betty Schwertfeger.

Pallbearers will be: Charles W. Brooks, David C. Brooks, Rebecca B. McGraw, Dr. Samuel Wilson, George Kegley, Thomas Swift, Jack Cyphers, and Edward Townsley. Honorary pallbearers will be: Dock Lee, Edwin Calary, and Howard Vinopal.

Those who desire may contribute to Fallston Animal Rescue Movement, 2725 Fallston Road, Fallston, MD 21047 for the care and adoption of Rodney.