The youngest of thirteen children born from the loving union of George and Anna Miller arrived on October 16, 1931 in Gastonia, North Carolina. She was named Dorothy Anna Faye Miller.



Affectionately known as "Dot" in her hometown, Dorothy grew up and attended school in Gastonia, where she was the Valedictorian of Highland High School's Class of 1949. She attended to North Carolina A & T University, where she graduated with honors; earned a Masters Degree of Social Work from the University of Southern California and also served as First Lieutenant/Commanding Officer of D-Company, USA Garrison-Presidio of San Francisco, California-Women's Air Corps.



While in San Francisco, she united in marriage with Albert Troupe and their union was blessed with three sons.



Dorothy's life and legacy revolve around her love for community, her belief in education and her genuine desire to help others. She served as a political activist, educator and social worker for over 40 years. Career highlights included nine years as a counselor supervisor at the California Institution for Women (1960 – 1969); co-founder of the Pomona Clarion, a black newspaper in Pomona, California (1969); a pioneering role at the Margaret Hudson Program for school-age mothers (1971 – 1974); ten years with Tulsa Job Corps (1975 – 1985), earning national manager of the year in 1984; and ten years with the Department of Human Services (1988 – 1998), receiving the department's highest honor, the DHS Commission Commendation in 1990 for her skill and professionalism in handling a mother contemplating suicide.



Dorothy believed in Democracy, "the ballot," and the African proverb "it takes a village to raise a child." She supported political candidates that were interested in improving life for the masses of North Tulsans. She so believed in voting that she made her oldest son take pictures of her granddaughter's first voting experience. Dorothy never missed an athletic event or an extracurricular activity involving her children and fought for North Tulsa causes unrelentingly as a leader in organizations such as Cub Scouts of America, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Jack & Jill Club of America, Business & Professional Women's Club of America and the National Association of Black Social Workers.



A devoted Delta, Soror Dorothy actively served the Tulsa Alumnae Chapter. She recently commented that the Deltas and phone conversations with sisters Libby and Margaret made retirement more meaningful. Dorothy spent most of her retirement completing crossword puzzles and chatting on the telephone with close friends Deloris Brown and Mary Costic. They typically talked politics, soap operas and sports. And anyone who knew Dorothy knew not to interrupt major sporting events involving Venus, Serena or Tiger.



The last few months had been difficult for Dorothy. Her health challenges escalated when she was hospitalized in mid-February. On March 16, 2006, Dorothy accepted the will of God and decided that she was ready for her Homecoming. Many were shocked by her passing inasmuch as she battled emphysema, breast and lung cancer like a leisurely walk in the park. We now know that the walk was not leisurely, but rather a fight of epic proportions, and Dorothy batled with the same tenacity that she displayed when fighting for her beliefs, her family and her people. A proud fighter to the very end of her life in the flesh, Dorothy believed in the power of God and asked that her loved ones remain "strong, prayerful and decent."



Dorothy leaves to cherish her loving memory three sons, Darryl Troupe (Andrea) of Norman, Oklahoma, Keith Troupe of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Guy Troupe of Dallas, Texas; two sisters, Margaret Phillips of Detroit, Michigan and Elizabeth Young of Gastonia, North Carolina; five granddaughters, Takelia, Porsche, Samarah, Sasha and Kamra; two special in-laws, Marilyn Troupe and Bonita Huffman; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The Hour of Tribute will be Wednesday,The Twenty-second day of March, Two-thousand, Six, At the eleventh hour in The All Faiths Chapel of Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, inc., 1414 North Norfolk Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Elder Shawn Atkinson, Associate Minister at Covenant Church, Carrollton, Texas, The Presiding Officiant. Entombment will follow in Rose Hill Mausoleum at Admiral and Yale in Tulsa.

You may visit Mrs. Troupe, as she slumbers at the funeral home on Tuesday from 10 AM until 7 PM, after which the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., will hold their Omega Omega Memorial Service.