Dorothy Hulda Gallant Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dorothy Hulda Humbke Gallant, 96, passed away on June 19, 2022 after a brief illness. Also known as “Dot,” “Dottie,” “Hump,” “GMom,” and “Grandot,” Dorothy lived in Indian Trail, NC, across the street from her daughter Candice Cooper and husband James at the time of her death. Dorothy was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, on September 4, 1925. She was the ninth of ten children born to Dietrich and Hulda Humbke, who had immigrated from Germany and Sweden in the late 1800s. Dorothy grew up on the family’s farm on the prairies of Alberta, Canada. She was an avid learner throughout her life. She attended a one-room schoolhouse before leaving home at age 14 to attend high school in the town of Wetaskiwin. She graduated from high school at age 16 but was too young to enroll in nursing school. Dorothy spent the next two years working at the Ponoka Mental Hospital before attending the preeminent Royal Alexandra Hospital School of Nursing in Edmonton, Alberta. Here she met Betty Bradshaw and Dot Clark, both who would eventually move to North Carolina. The trio became lifelong friends. As a young nurse during the 1940s, Dorothy worked on polio and tuberculosis wards at the Royal Alexandra. Later, she would vividly recall her young patients in iron lungs and the suffering that infectious diseases could bring. She herself was a survivor of smallpox and many childhood diseases. She was first in line when COVID-19 vaccines were made available in 2021. She was an “old school” nurse in the finest and most exacting sense, much to the chagrin of the nurses who cared for her during her recent hospitalization. Following World War II, Dorothy moved from Alberta to North Carolina to work at Charlotte Memorial Hospital (now Atrium). Shortly after arriving in Charlotte, she was introduced to the love of her life, Donald Alfred Gallant, by mutual friends Dot and Carl Todd. Dorothy had applied for a job as a TWA stewardess so she could see the world, but Alfred proposed before she could take the position. They were married for over 50 years until Alfred’s death in 2000. They built several businesses together and raised three daughters, Paula, Candy, and Diana, before retiring to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the 1990s. Besides nursing, Dorothy had careers in accounting and real estate. She was vivacious and outgoing and had many friends of all ages. She enjoyed shopping, gardening, sewing, cooking and entertaining. She was a serious bridge player and never let anything interfere with her bridge parties. Dorothy loved movies and often took her young daughters to films meant for adults, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Carpetbaggers, and Rosemary’s Baby. These movie-going experiences inspired a love of film, literature, and drama in her children. When she would visit family in Alberta, Dorothy took her daughters to the Edmonton horse races and let them place bets. Before heading to the betting window, they would go down to the track to inspect the horses and choose the ones they thought might win. She indulged her children’s love of nature and animals, allowing them to roam the woods and raise an assortment of cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, mice, fish, turtles, snakes, and a pony named “Popcorn.” Dorothy was generous to her daughters’ childhood friends as well. Some still count her as a second mother. She was also a beloved aunt to her many nieces and nephews and was idolized by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught her grandchildren how to play poker, which she said would give them math skills. An accomplished artist, Dorothy gave her grandchildren art lessons. She also taught her granddaughters how to belly dance, even sewing exotic costumes for them. Dorothy enjoyed writing poetry and telling stories about her childhood and her work as a nurse. She inspired a daughter, granddaughter, and at least two nieces to become registered nurses. Among other pleasures, Dorothy enjoyed a cocktail each evening, usually Jack Daniels or Crown Royal. She had to give up alcohol when she went on blood thinners several years ago, but would still sneak a beer once in a while. A smoker for sixty years, she cursed those “damn cigarette manufacturers” when she developed COPD and had to quit that habit as well. Dorothy loved watching major league baseball, NASCAR, and golf on television. She enjoyed using Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends. She would upload photos of her cats, her artwork, and the many jigsaw puzzles she completed. She had a greater social media presence than any of her offspring. Dorothy lived through major periods of history from the 1920s to the present day. She remained engaged with all that was happening in politics, science, art, and sports. She read the newspaper daily and thought that the internet and Google were the best inventions ever. Dorothy will be remembered for her insatiable zest for life and learning, as well as her great love of family and friends. Despite the hardships that aging brought her, she remained positive and undeterred throughout her nearly 97 years. As her children, we thought our undaunted mother would live forever. We hope that she and our father have reunited on Alpha Centauri, just as they promised each other. In addition to her husband and parents, Dorothy was predeceased by brothers Frederick, Conrad, Henry, Gordon, and Richard Humbke; sisters Elsie Williams, Florence Johnson, Myrtle Sullivan, and Norma Humbke; son-in-law Gregory Eckard; granddaughter-in-law InSun Cooper; and, dear friend Betty Bradshaw Ruhlman. She is survived by daughters Paula Eckard, Candice Cooper and husband James, and Diana Carter and husband David. Also, surviving are grandchildren David Eckard and wife Whitney and their children Julianna, Amelia, and Daphne; Justin Eckard and wife Lori and their children Violet and Samantha; William Eckard and wife Sarah and their children Samuel and Thomas; Alisa Cooper Perkins and husband Jason and their daughter Elisabeth; James Cooper and his sons Nicholas and Matthew, Lauren Cooper Habicht and husband Daniel and their daughter Lillian; Emily Cooper and her son Andrew Cox; Robert Cooper and his daughter Isabelle; Vander Carter; and William Carter. Dorothy leaves behind her oldest and closest friend Viola “Dot” Clark Todd, special friend Shannon Kania, and many nieces and nephews across the United States and Canada. A graveside service will be held 11 AM Friday, June 24, 2022 at Evergreen Cemetery at 11415 Bain School Road in Mint Hill, NC. (Evergreen Cemetery adjoins the Philadelphia Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The driveway off Bain School Road serves both cemeteries.) Reverend Jason Myers will officiate. A celebratory gathering will follow at the Park on Wilgrove (Shelter #1) located at 7750 Jim Harper Lane, Mint Hill, NC. Please dress comfortably and casually since the weather will be hot. Memorials can be made to the Humane Society of Union County (https://hsuc.org/) or to an animal rescue organization of the donor’s choice. Heritage Funeral and Cremation Services at 4431 Old Monroe Rd, Indian Trail, NC 28079 is handling arrangements.

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Dorothy Hulda Gallant

September 4, 1925 - June 19, 2022