Dorothy Rinehart

Dorothy Powers Rinehart

Winter Park, Florida - Dorothy Powers Rinehart, 94, died peacefully at home with family on September 29, 2025. Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, she was predeceased by her parents Mr. and Mrs. William Farley (Sue Clinton Gordon) Powers, brother William Farley Powers, Jr., sister Cynthia Powers Carper, son Jeffrey Ebon Rinehart, and her beloved husband of 66 years John Robert (Jack) Rinehart.

She is survived and missed by her son John Farley Rinehart (Gwen); her grandchildren Hillary Rinehart Stamas (Demetri), John Powers

Rinehart (Karrah); and her great-grand children George, Hazel and Cora Stamas, and Jane and Hattie Rinehart; numerous nieces and nephews; and cherished friends.

Dot graduated from Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia, and Randolph-Macon Women’s College, where she was President of her sorority. She became a teacher and briefly taught sixth grade. She met Jack at a dance at Norfolk Yacht and Country Club and they married in 1954. Jack and Dot spent many happy years in Miami where they raised their boys boating and fishing on Biscayne Bay, the Florida Keys, and the Bahamas. Dot was a tennis player and great at bridge too. In Miami, Dot was active in the Coral Gables Junior Women’s Club and the Museum of Science. She dedicated many hours volunteering and fund raising for both organizations, accepting leadership roles, making her community a better place. She had a beautiful gracious smile for all who knew her. Miami is where she met Anne who would be her friend for life. Anne and her husband Bill McNamara, introduced Dot and Jack to the beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains.

Dot and Jack moved to Robbinsville, North Carolina when their boys were grown. She loved the cool mountain air and walked around her community mountain every day. She and Jack were very involved members at Robbinsville United Methodist Church. Dot made many friends in the 30 years they were on Lake Santeetlah. Opening their home to friends and neighbors was a big part of their life on the Lake. Her family members all have wonderful memories of being welcomed and hosted by Dot in her mountain home. She was an active volunteer in Robbinsville also and many community projects benefitted from her willing spirit to help others.

As the years went by, Jack and Dot desired being closer to family so they moved to Fort Lauderdale where their son John and his family lived. After Jack went home to be with his Lord and Savior, life became a little lonely for Dot. She had friends at their condo on the Intracoastal and family just a few minutes down the street. She had a nice church, Coral Ridge Presbyterian. She played bridge several times each week. And she always walked! She stayed active all her life. But when John and Gwen moved to Winter Park, they all knew it would be nice for Dot to make the move with them. She had a year and a half in Winter Park before it was time for her to go home to Jesus. She would join Jack and so many she loved.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dorothy’s name to Church Mouse Ministries, Inc., 140 N. Main Street, Robbinsville, NC 28771.