| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 31 Jul 2009.
Hazel E. Wilhoit obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 27 Jun 2014.
As It Was Give To Me: Dolly’s 90 and there’s a party in her future!
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Dolly’s 90 and there’s a party in her future!
Dolly’s 90
Perhaps the happiest person at Arin Chambers’ high school graduation in May, 2014, was great-grandmother Dolly Harville, front. In back from left are Dolly’s daughter, Beverly Chambers, great-grandchildren Arin and Alex Chambers, and son-in-law Bill Chambers.
‘As It Was Give To Me’ Duay O’Neil
One of Newport’s best known and loved ladies, Dolly Harville, turned 90 years old Tuesday, June 24, and plans are in the works for a big birthday party Sunday, July 6, at her home on Lincoln Avenue.
Born in 1924, she was the younger Robert Eugene and Hazel Marie (Carty) Ottinger’s two daughters. Some will remember her dad driving a Gulf Oil truck for Fred Fisher, working with Ovie Williams. Mr. Ottinger also served as a Newport alderman for many years.
Dolly’s ancestors include the Ottinger, Huff, Boyer, and Carty families, some of Cocke County’s earliest settlers.
At birth, she was christened Margaret Louise, a name that quickly became Dolly when older sister, Hazel Eugenia “Jeanie” was brought in by Aunt Sallie Robeson to see the new baby.
Upon spying the infant, Jeanie asked, “Is that a doll in bed with Mama?”
When told it was a new baby sister, Jeanie exclaimed, “Oh, I have a little sister dolly!”
And, so Dolly was named.
At the time, the family lived on Third Street and, for the most part, they haven’t strayed too far.
Toys and books were few and far between. “We played hop scotch and chased one another around the house,” she recalls.
She also remembers the family’s first radio, purchased from Liston Bryant.
When time came for school, Dolly enrolled at nearby Newport Grammar, where Miss Louise Seehorn was her first teacher.
To those who know Dolly, it will come as no surprise to learn that Miss Seehorn once whacked Dolly’s fingers with a wooden ruler for talking too much. One can but wonder if Dolly was a little quieter in fourth grade when she once again found herself in Miss Seehorn’s classroom.
Of all her grammar school teachers, Dolly says she was fondest of Miss Reba Davis, later Williams. “She liked me,” Dolly remembers.
Her best friend in those days was Betty Bennett, who later became Betty Hill after her adoption. In later life, Betty was Mrs. Pete Eichorn.
Dolly’s experience with wooden rulers wasn’t limited to Miss Seehorn. As a piano student of Mrs. P. T. Bauman, she once again felt the pain of a wooden ruler smacked on her hands when she missed a note. “I only took piano about a year,” she laughs, “but I can still play ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
No doubt this skill came in handy at nearby Second Baptist Church (now Lincoln Avenue Baptist) where the family attended services.
She graduated from Cocke County High in 1942, a classmate of Edith Clevenger, Frank Strickler, and others. She and Edith were the best of friends, often spending the nights with one another and getting into all sorts of shenanigans.
Shortly after graduation, Dolly had a date with Dennis Caton, whom she asked to bring a friend for Dolly Masters, another Newport girl.
Dennis brought Homer Harville of Morristown. The two young men worked at a Morristown theatre.
“We went to the Promise Land,” Dolly recalls. “We could dance there. Art Fisher owned it.”
During the evening, Homer asked Dolly, “When can I see you?” She had met her future husband that night.
The two married December 16, 1943, going to the Bridgers Methodist Church parsonage in Morristown where Rev. Westmoreland performed the ceremony.
Initially they lived in a rented new home on Louisa Avenue in Morristown.
World War II was underway, and Homer soon enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Company F, 315th Infantry. He would later serve his country during the Korean War as well.
At one time, the couple lived in Daytona Beach, and while Homer was with the Army Dolly went to the beach.
After he shipped out for overseas service, Dolly returned to Newport to live with her parents in their Fourth Street home. While here, she did her part for the war effort, often joining her cousin Sue Robeson to give coffee and doughnuts to soldiers passing through Newport on their way to their next station.
In 1947, the couple’s only child, Beverly, was born.
When her baby was about six months old, Dolly went to work at Newport Utilities, joining her across-the-street neighbor Mildred Carrell as one of only two women employees.
She worked until just months before her 40th anniversary with NU, leaving in time to escape the onset of computers.
She was a longtime member of the Newport Business Women’s Club, serving as secretary for several years.
In her retirement years, she has reveled in the love and attention from her family and friends, always ready for a long visit on the front porch and swapping a joke or two.
She adored her only grandson, Robert Chambers, who, sadly, died earlier this year after a courageous bout with cancer.
But she has her memories of family trips, including one to Pearl Harbor and another to Belize and Honduras.
And when great-granddaughter Arin graduated from Harpeth Hall this May, Dolly was right there, decked out in a beautiful blue outfit ready to applaud loudly when Arin delivered her commencement address.
On Sunday, July 6, she looks forward to greeting an expected 200 or so family and friends planning to drop by for an afternoon party. “They’ve order two big cakes for me!” she crowed. Hours are from 2-4 and everyone’s invited. “No gifts!” she orders. “I’ve got everything I could possibly want. Just come visit. Dr. Hood is going to be here and sing ‘Hello, Dolly!’ You don’t want to miss that. How many people can say their personal doctor sang to them on their birthday?”
- [S112] Census, 1940.
Name: Louise Ottinger
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Newport, Civil District 6, Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 15
Marital Status: Single
Race (Original): White
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Daughter
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Birthplace: Tennessee
Birth Year (Estimated): 1925
Last Place of Residence: Same House
District: 15-14
Family Number: 295
Sheet Number and Letter: 16A
Line Number: 34
Affiliate Publication Number: T627
Affiliate Film Number: 3881
Digital Folder Number: 005461287
Image Number: 00405
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Robert Ottinger M 44 Tennessee
Wife Hazel Ottinger F 34 Tennessee
Daughter Eugenia Ottinger F 17 Tennessee
Daughter Louise Ottinger F 15 Tennessee
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Robert E Ottinger
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 20 Mar 1921
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Age:
Birth Year (Estimated):
Father's Name:
Father's Titles and Terms:
Mother's Name:
Mother's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Name: Hazel M Carty
Spouse's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Age:
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated):
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Father's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Titles and Terms:
Reference ID: 62
GS Film number: 1928646
Digital Folder Number: 004485961
Image Number: 00064
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Homer Florn Harville
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 16 Dec 1942
Event Place: Hamblen, Tennessee, United States
Spouse's Name: Margaret Louise Ottinger
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