 ARLENE DITSWORTH Irish lass Arlene C. Ditsworth passed away July 12, 2012 after a long battle with ataxia, cancer and dementia. She was born in Everett, Wash., Oct. 29, 1932, to Arthur Whelan and Florence Callahan Whelan, both Irish to the core. In good health, she was one of the happiest individuals this world has known. The daughter of a Northern Pacific Rail Road man, by age 10 she had near as many iron rail wheel miles beneath her, from Arlington (Seattle), Wash. to her grandparent's homes in Minnesota and Butte, Mont., as many a railroad porter. Reared in Arlington and Spokane, Wash., Arlene walked over a mile each way to Marycliff High School for four years to become a 1950 graduate. She was a Bell Telephone bookkeeper and accountant in Spokane and San Diego. It was in Spokane that she met and married U.S. Air Force's 1st Lt. Sterling C. (Buzz) Ditsworth Dec. 26, 1955. They resided in San Diego for 11 years before becoming full-time Las Vegas residents in 1966. In Las Vegas, she worked some 15 years as office manager for neurosurgeon, Dr. Lonnie Hammergren. She was also very active in the PTO at St. Viator Catholic School where her children attended. Arlene always wanted to go - it mattered not where and often went. She visited her son in Kathmandu, Nepal and Bangkok, Thailand as well as the world around. In retirement, she and husband, Buzz, enjoyed many happy miles traveling around the U.S. in their motorhome. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Florence Whelan; and daughter, Juliet Augusta Ditsworth at age four. Arlene is survived by her husband, of 56 years, Sterling (Buzz); sons, Dr. Mark J. Ditsworth (Loni) of Reno and Dr. Bradley A. Ditsworth (Denise) of Las Vegas; daughter, Laurie R. Mill (Steve) of Vancouver, Wash.; brother, Joseph Whelan; sister, Mary McDonald; granddaughters, Michelle, Monica and Meghann Ditsworth, and Ashley Mill; and grandson, Colin Ditsworth. Laurie is expecting grandchild number six in September. Arlene's effectual laugh will be missed forever. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m., Thursday, July 19, at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a
.
![]() |
|
Bookmark this memorial on Facebook with the My Memorials™ application. My Memorials™ helps you honor departed family members, friends, and even favorite celebrities – all on your Facebook page.
|
Thank you. You have now memorialized on Facebook.
 |
The My Memorials Facebook app allows you to:
- Connect with memorials that are important to you.
- Get updates on your memorials in your Facebook News Feed.
- Share your memories with your Facebook friends.
|
|
|
|
You are searching
|
 |
|
|
