Dorothy Lee (Depue) West

Dorothy Lee West was a mother, grandmother, US Army veteran, civil servant, world traveler, philosopher, and a fierce individualist. She passed away on January 4th, 2021 in Denver, Colorado at the age of 87.

Dorothy was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia on February 9th, 1933. In her youth, she was an early member of the Women’s Army Corps, serving her country and paving the way for women in the military today. For over 30 years, Dorothy lived, worked, and traveled throughout Europe. During this time, she raised a daughter as a single mother in Germany despite the social mores of the time. Before finally returning to the United States, Dorothy spent several years in South America as one of only a few women in the U.S. Intelligence Community with a specialization in military affairs. In many instances throughout her life, Dorothy revealed herself to be an unwitting pioneer of modern feminism.

Underneath her stoic exterior, however, was a childlike curiosity that took her around the globe over the course of her lifetime. Her innate sense of wanderlust was complemented by an almost innocent fascination with the world and its inhabitants. Dorothy was an explorer at heart whose curiosity and sense of adventure was only preceded by her defiance of those who attempted to stifle it.

Dorothy loved fiercely and surrounded herself with a cadre of friends and family that lived by a similar code. She is survived by her only daughter, Paula West, and by her grandsons, Nicholas Trimmer and Stepho Trimmer, who affectionately refer to her as “G-Dog, G-Unit,” or simply, “the Gangster.” Dorothy was preceded in death by her life partner, Ante Kosina, and by her son from another mother, Gerhard Maurer.

In the end, Dorothy died as she lived - on her own terms and in a blaze of glory. In lieu of flowers, Dorothy’s family asks that you travel to a new city, open a bottle of Chilean wine, and start a conversation with a stranger.

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