Obituary of Dorothy Allers

Dorothy (Dodie) Keith Allers, 94, passed away peacefully on November 29, 2024 surrounded by loving family.  A resident of Basking Ridge since 1960, Dodie was a fixture in the community as an active member of the Basking Ridge Garden Club and fundraising volunteer with The Bonafides of Somerset Hills and The Atlantic Adult Day Center, a service of Atlantic Visiting Nurse.  She was also the last living founding member of the Church and Cannon Chapter of The National Society Daughters of The American Revolution in Springfield, NJ.

The daughter of John Monroe Keith and Ruth Jaeger Keith, Dodie grew up in the Springbrook Park section of Springfieldwith sister Jean, and brothers John and Bob.  The Keith household was the center of neighborhood fun for kids on the block.  On Saturday nights, mom and dad would chaperone Teen In at the American Legion Hall, created by the community as a way to keep kids off the streets and out of trouble in the 40s and 50s.  There the Keith siblings would enjoy socializing with friends and dancing the night away.  

Dodie was a dental hygienist for 63 years, starting in 1950 when she graduated from the dental hygiene program at West LibertyCollege in West Liberty, WV.  This was the beginning of herlife-long passion for dental hygiene.  The Virginia Bureau of Dental Health hired Dodie as the first state-hired dental hygienist.  Equipped with surplus WWII equipment, Dodie traveled to rural grade schools in Rockbridge County educating children on how to brush their teeth and the importance of oral health.  Upon her return to New Jersey, she worked in Summitbefore landing in Basking Ridge with Dr. Arthur Milne whosepractice was bought by Dr. Joseph Micale in 1994.  Here Dodiehad the privilege of working on three and four generations of families, volunteered at local wellness events and the Matheny School, and retired in December 2013.  Throughout her career, Dodie held various board positions with the ADHA and NJDHA.  In 2011 she was a recipient of the prestigious Sunstar Award of Distinction, the first dental hygienist in the history of the award to be in practice for over 55 years.  

Dodie was a dedicated wife and mother.  While at college, she met Earl Erdman Schaub.  They were married in 1951 and ultimately planted roots in Basking Ridge in the house where she resided until earlier this year.  Despite the doctors saying she would not be able to have children, her daughter Pamela was born in 1964.  In 1971, Earl passed away suddenly at the age of 44, but Dodie found love a “second time around” and marriedGeorge Allers in 1973.  An optometrist, Dr. Allers moved his practice from Livingston to Basking Ridge where he worked until 2008, two years before his death at age 83.

Earlier this year, Dodie moved to The Residence at Basking Ridge and absolutely loved her new home and community.  “It’s like living on a cruise ship,” she would say.  

Dodie endeared herself to everyone she met which she attributed to her passion for people…who they are, where they’re from, and what they do.  She will be dearly missed by many.

Dodie is survived by her daughter, Pamela Graham and son-in-law Peter Graham of Union City, NJ; sister Jean Skelly of Wayland, MA; and brothers John Keith, Jr of Naples, FL and Robert Keith of Lake Lure, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Atlantic Adult Day Center, a service of Atlantic Visiting Nurse, 200 Mount Airy Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ.

Memorial visitation will be held at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ on Friday, December 13, 2024 from 4-7PM. Memorial Mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church, 184 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge NJ on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 10AM. Burial of ashes will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Basking Ridge, NJ. For further information, or to leave an online condolence message please visit www.gcfuneralhome.com