Mar 10, 2023

Dorothy Johnston Alrutz, 88, of McDonald, Mt. Pleasant Township, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Presbyterian SeniorCare Network – Southmont.

Mrs. Alrutz was born July 3, 1934, in Brownsville, a daughter of the late George and Ethel McCoy Johnston.

Dorothy worked at Don’s Paint and Wallpaper in McDonald, which she was co-owner with her husband for 20 years.

After Don’s Paint & Wallpaper closed, Dorothy worked as a sales clerk for Sears for 10 years.

Dorothy belonged to the Eastern Stars and the Midway Senior Citizens group. Dorothy attended church every Sunday at McDonald Presbyterian. There was truly nothing more important to Dorothy than her family.

Dorothy was lucky enough to marry the love of her life, the late Donald Alrutz. Together they created the life that they had always dreamt of. She and her husband created a family with their five children. Dorothy loved caring for them and teaching them how to work hard. She was the loving mother that they all needed. When it came time for grandchildren, Dorothy’s whole world changed. An already devoted mother, she became an even more devoted grandmother. She loved spending all her time with her grandchildren, they were truly her life. They made her laugh, smile and feel young again. She was the matriarch of their family for so long and now that strong, beautiful, and loving woman is gone but a small piece of her lives on through all of them.

Surviving are her children, Don (Barb) Alrutz, Marlene (Jerry) Thomas, Jerry (Suzi) Alrutz, Kenny (Susie) Alrutz, Patti Ann (Doug) Baird; grandchildren, Erica, Jason, Zach, Chris, Ryan, Matt, Evan and Amy Alrutz, Jared Thomas, Jessica Speer, Caitlin Allen, and Dustin Baird; great-grandchildren, Gwendolyn and Juliet Speer, Aiden and Wyatt Allen, and Sloane, Anna and Jackson Alrutz; and siblings, Betty Falsetti of New Castle, Debbie Hill of Sacramento, Calif.

Along with her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband, Donald Alrutz; and brothers, Ronnie, Paul, Richard and Dale Johnston; and a sister, Sara McCauley.

Friends and family will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 12, in Thomas-Little Funeral Service, Inc., 314 W. Lincoln Avenue, McDonald (724-926-2800), where a second visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., the time of a service, Monday, March 13. Interment will follow at Robinson Run Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pittsburgh, 2835 E. Carson Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, in memory of Dorothy.