Obituary of Betty J. Dorris

Sensing God’s call to serve as a missionary, this graduate of Norristown High School and Columbia University also enrolled in a certificate program at Philadelphia College of Bible (now Cairn University). She then served for a year as a physical therapist at a mission rehab center in Haiti for handicapped children. Upon returning to Pennsylvania she continued in physical therapy while volunteering as a youth leader at First Presbyterian Church of Norristown and initiating an outreach to children who were patients at the former Sacred Heart Hospital. Marrying Roger Dorris, a seminary student, in 1978, she pursued her Ph.T. (putting hubby through), and upon his graduation they served a diverse urban church in Jersey City, NJ for 3 years prior to going overseas. With 3-year-old David and 3-month-old Anna in tow, Betty and her husband left for Lima, Peru in 1984 to bring the hope of Christ during a time when the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru terrorist groups were at their height. Serving the evangelical mission agency, ReachGlobal, they planted a church that met in their home and later in its own building down the street. Betty taught women and children and provided much-needed counsel for those struggling to thrive in a difficult situation. Giving birth to Mark in Lima, and to Joseph on a furlough in the US, Betty raised their 4 children in a bi-lingual and bi-cultural environment. Moving to Caracas, Venezuela in 1993, Betty continued serving with Roger in church planting, teaching ladies and children as well as providing keyboard accompaniment in worship. Returning to Pennsylvania for family educational needs in 1997, Betty resumed her physical therapy career part-time while serving as a discussion leader in Chelten Baptist Church’s ladies’ Bible ministry, “Tapestry.” She also served as a deaconess and as a Missions Committee member at First Presbyterian Church of Norristown and traveled as able with her husband, Roger to numerous Evangelical Free churches in the eastern US. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2009, Betty underwent major surgeries and dealt with numerous complications with her characteristic grace and wit, trusting in God as her source of strength. She is survived by her husband, Roger, a daughter and 3 sons: Anna Voorman and son-in-law Dr. Matthew Voorman of Danville, PA, David Dorris of Norwalk, CT, Mark Dorris of Tempe, AZ, and Joseph Dorris of Oreland, PA. Betty was pre-deceased by her parents, William and Ruth Cobb of Norristown, PA, and is survived by her brothers, William Cobb of Fort Washington, PA, Rev. David Cobb of Absecon, NJ, and Arthur Cobb of Norristown, PA. Viewing will be Friday April 19, 6-8 PM at Moore & Snear Funeral Home, 19 East Germantown Pike East Norriton, PA 19401. Another viewing will take place Saturday April 20, 9:00-9:45 AM at First Presbyterian Church, 113 E. Airy St., Norristown, PA, followed by a service. Interment is private [at George Washington Memorial Park in Plymouth Meeting]. Memorial Gifts may be sent to ReachGlobal, 901 E. 78th St., Mpls., MN 55420 (Checks payable to “EFCA” with “ReachGlobal” on memo line). PLEASE SEE FAMILY OBITUARY