Dolores Zimmerly
October 6th, 1935 – February 22nd, 2026
Dolores Jean Zimmerly nee Pugh was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio on October 6, 1935, to David and Gladys Pugh and died in Haines City, Florida on February 22, 2026.
She was the 4th of 7 children. The family moved to Louisville, Ohio and Dolores graduated from Louisville High School. She worked as a lab assistant at Aultman Hospital in Akron/Canton, Ohio and later at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dolores helped with the youth at the United Methodist Church in Rochester, Minnesota, and later at the Immanuel United Methodist Church in Olney, Illinois. She served as the church secretary in Olney and met Robert Eugene Zimmerly there. They raised their children in Haines City, Florida, and attended First United Methodist Church in Haines City and Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church in Winter Haven, Florida.
Dolores taught pre-school for many years and enjoyed nurturing young minds. Dolores also volunteered many hours in the Polk County Public Schools, especially Dundee Elementary and was awarded the Florida State Volunteer of the Year in 1983. She helped raise money by selling popcorn and candy at Jenkins Middle School in Haines City and was known as the popcorn lady. She also helped plant trees at Dundee Elementary and irrigation at Jenkins Middle School. She tirelessly attended church, music, and sports events that her children and grandchildren were involved in. She sang in the choir and also as a soloist. Later, she performed in Haven Harmony, a choir for seniors in Winter Haven, Florida. Dolores loved family, sports, babies, quilting, and gardening. She had faith in God and loved Jesus. She took the sight of cardinals as a sign that Heaven awaited us all.
Dolores is survived by daughters, Carol Zimmerly and Roberta Drier; son-in-law, Stephen Drier; and grandchildren, David Drier, Emily Drier, and Allison Graham; her brother and sister-in-law, Dean and Roberta Pugh; and her sister-in-law, Tommi Pugh (Kenneth Pugh).
Dolores was pre-deceased by her father and mother, David Hunter Pugh and Gladys Jeanette Pugh; and her siblings, Kathryn Shearer (John Shearer), Virginia Blum (Richard Blum), Edward Pugh (Berdine Pugh), Ralph Pugh (Helen Pugh), and Kenneth Pugh.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, March 21st at 11am at Beymer Church in Winter Haven, FL. Visitation will be at 10am.
