Dorothy Ruth Tasman

Dorothy Ruth Tasman passed away on January 16, 2020 from Alzheimer’s complicated by a recent stroke. She was the oldest daughter of Fred Barth Jr. and Melba Plato Barth. Dorothy was born and grew up in Mansfield, Ohio where she attended a one room school house the first 9 years of her education, graduating from Mansfield Madison High School in 1953. Dorothy then moved to Chicago, Illinois and completed her Registered Nurse degree at St. Luke’s Hospital school of Nursing in 1956 where she met and later wed Bulent Tasman, the father of her four sons, Bulent (Bill), Eric, Alan and Jeffrey. For a time she worked as a staff nurse at the VA Center in Reno, NV. After spending five years in Turkey, (Istanbul and Izmir) Dorothy and sons returned to Mansfield, Ohio where Dorothy obtained a position as a Registered Nurse at Mansfield General Hospital. Dorothy worked her way up to head nurse of 2-North and then to the position of Director of Nurses of Obstetrics. In 1989 Dorothy graduated with a BSN degree magna cum laude from Ashland University. She retired after almost thirty-five years with Mansfield General Hospital. Dorothy was a fun loving, caring individual, who found much joy in life while liberally sharing that love and joy with her many co-workers, friends and family. She was generous to all and had a quick wit...bawdy at times but hey, she was a nurse. She loved the arts. She loved painting and her home was adorned with the many pieces she had created over the years. She loved and shared all kinds of music and it was a thrill to hear her play the accordion, an instrument she excelled in. She was an excellent cook; having mastered Mediterranean cuisine while in Turkey. Her four boys were always well fed. Anyone who was blessed to receive her marzipan creations or baklava over the years was blessed indeed. Dorothy loved having family get-togethers and made time to regularly have brunch and tea-parties at her home with family and friends. Dorothy mostly excelled as a mother. She was always supportive and encouraging of her four boys and made it a point to attend their many sporting events, choir concerts, recitals and school events. Dorothy was a very loving Mom who used to say you’re never too old to sit on your mom’s lap while also joking you’re also never too old for me to slap. She loved her many grandchildren and always tried to participate in their events and make them feel special. As Dorothy continued to fight Alzheimer’s, which afflicted the final twelve years of her life, she continued to exhibit the love and joy she had shared with others all her life. She was a strong, loving human being and those who knew her will miss her. Dorothy is survived by two of her four sons, Eric and Alan and their wives Karen and Judy; her three sisters and their families, Lillian Wilson, Kathy Barth and Penny Foster; and a brother, Edward Jenkins and family. She has been blessed with five grandchildren, Lance, Joshua, Sarah, Erica and Mathew Tasman and a new arrival, Sage Graves, Dorothy’s first great-granddaughter. In addition, she is survived by many nieces and nephews, their families and cousins. Dorothy’s sons, Bill and Jeff preceded her to the throne of grace and have welcomed her there. Because Dorothy accepted Jesus the Christ as her personal savior, those of us in Christ will one day be blessed to see her again. What a glorious day that will be. As a result of Dorothy’s wishes a graveside funeral service will be held at a later date. Family and friends will be notified at that time.