GARNER — Dorothy E. Short, a Garner centenarian who helped build B-17 bombers during World War II before returning to North Iowa to raise a large family and build a life centered on faith, hard work and service, died Friday, July 17, 2026, at Concord Care Center in Garner. She was 100.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. Fourth Street in Garner. Chaplain Jani Dahlin of St. Croix Hospice officiated.
Visitation was held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral chapel. Inurnment was at Clear Lake Cemetery.
Dorothy Elizabeth Ott Short was born October 24, 1925, in Clear Lake, the daughter of Ralph and Nettie Howard Ott. She attended Clear Lake schools and graduated from Clear Lake High School.
Following graduation, Dorothy moved across the country to Seattle, Washington, to join the massive civilian effort supporting American troops during World War II.
According to her obituary, Dorothy worked with a team of women assembling B-17 bombers. She became one of the celebrated “Rosie the Riveters” whose labor helped keep American factories operating and military aircraft rolling off assembly lines during the war.
After the fighting ended, Dorothy returned home to Iowa. She married Wesley Robbins at Clear Lake United Methodist Church in October 1946.
The couple initially lived with Wesley’s parents before moving to a farm near Thompson. They later relocated to Garner and eventually settled on a farm north of Ventura, where they raised their four children, Doug, Rosie, Sherri and Kandi.
Dorothy experienced an unexpected loss when Wesley died in 1975.
She later met Bill Short through a mutual friend, and the two married in 1978. Dorothy joined Bill on his farm east of Miller and helped care for his children, bringing their families together.
Her working life included employment at Winnebago Industries’ Stitchcraft plant. She also assisted Bill with Short’s Pik Acres, their small fruit and orchard operation, and the couple ran a successful Watkins Products business.
After Bill retired from his airport position and the youngest child had left home, Dorothy and Bill moved to Cabool, Missouri. They spent their winters in Yuma, Arizona, before eventually returning to Garner about 10 years later to be closer to family.
Bill died in 2017. Dorothy continued living independently in her home until moving to Cardinal Grove Assisted Living in 2019.
Her obituary notes that Dorothy found happiness in time spent with family and enjoyed gardening, crocheting, sewing and baking pies. She was also a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Miller.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Doug and Sonnie Robbins of Sioux City, Sherri and Jim Erkel of Cedar Rapids, and Kandi and Ed Kotz of Swaledale; stepchildren, Ron and Christine Short of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Steve and Michelle Short of Oregon, Mark Short and Carl Ray of Sebastopol, California, Bill and Lori Short of Garner, Jeff and Lisa Short of Garner, Daniel and Sherry Short of North Carolina, Chris and Bobbie Short of Mankato, Minnesota, and Joe and Pat Short of Kansas City, Missouri; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Wesley Robbins and Bill Short; her parents; daughter, Rosie Bodin; stepdaughter, Cindy Short; and siblings, Donald, Jack, Margaret and Ralph Jr.
CATALDO FUNERAL HOME is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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