Evelyn (Dolly) Petersen's Obituary
Evelyn (Dolly) Settle Petersen age 93, passed away peacefully at the Johnson Center , Falcons Landing Potomac Falls Virginia on May 11, 2020 after living with dementia the past 13 years. Born on January 30th 1927 in Flint Hill, Virginia , she was the 3rd of four siblings of James and Julia Settle. Her given name was Evelyn but a relative said as a baby she looked like a little doll so thereafter she was always known as "Dolly". Dolly was predeceased by her beloved husband of 43 years, Col. Robert (Bob) James Petersen of Chicago Illinois who died unexpectedly on August 27,1991 and is interred in Arlington National Cemetery. Her sisters Mary Minor Settle Bowersett (95)of Virginia Beach Virginia and Carol Settle Bowersett (91)of Silver Spring Maryland survive her along with her three children, Susan Jean Petersen McLaughlin of Charlotte NC, Robert (Bob) James Petersen Jr. of Austin, Texas and Kenneth (Ken) Edward Petersen of Woodbridge, Virginia. She is also survived by her daughters in law Charlotte Petersen and Lisa Petersen and 8 grandchildren ( Robert III, Rick, Russell, Rachel, Luke, Michelle, Nick, Jared, ) and 7 great grandchildren (names).
Dolly grew up in the small country town of Flint Hill Virginia inhabited by a mere 350 people. She graduated from Warrenton High School in 1945 and attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg Virginia. She met the love of her life Bob ( a city slicker from Chicago as she would call him) and a 1948 graduate of West Point when he visited friends near her small hometown. After attending Mary Washington College she worked before her marriage as a medical secretary. She was married to Bob in the small town of Washington (Little Washington) Virginia on December 28 1948 in a small episcopal church across the street from where the renowned Inn at Little Washington is located. Bob always joked that he was only known as Dolly's husband. As an army wife for 26 years she supported her husband and raised a family as he was assigned to posts such as Korea, Ft Benning Ga, Bad Nauheim Germany, Ft Leavenworth Kansas, West Point NY, Nashville Tennessee, Vietnam, Pentagon (Arlington/Alexandria/McLean Virginia) and Schofield Barracks (Oahu) Hawaii. She also did double duty and served as both parents when Bob served in Korea for a year and later served a year of hardship duty in Vietnam.
Dolly was an avid bridge player and volunteered extensively for Meals on Wheels as she delivered prepared meals to homebound people throughout the years. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining their many friends and family. She loved to watch Dr Robert Schuller and the Hour of Power on tv each Sunday and was thrilled to visit the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California when she was 80. She was extremely close to her two sisters Mary Minor and Carol. She also kept in close touch with long typed letters to her many friends she met throughout the years most in the military who lived wherever she, Bob and their family were stationed. In their retirement years, she and Bob loved to travel particularly to France and England as well as enjoyed cruises with their friends.
Dolly's family would like to express their gratitude to the many caregivers at West Falls Center and Johnson Center, part of the Falcons Landing Retirement complex who took great care of Dolly during the last 13 years of her life. Loudoun Funeral Home in Leesburg Virginia will be serving the family and a memorial service will be held in the near future in the chapel of Falcons Landing, 20522 Falcons Landing Circle. Potomac Falls Virginia. Dolly will be cremated per her wishes and laid to rest besides her husband Bob in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers and for those wishing to send memorial gifts, please consider the Alzheimers Association or a charity of your choice
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