Winifred Doris Drechsler Dodge, age 93, beloved wife of the Rev. Paul Sherwood Dodge for 72 years, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 3, 2025, following a brief period of time in the Skilled Nursing Unit at Garden Spot Village retirement community. Since 2010, Winnie and Paul had made their home there, after many years in their coastal residence in Machiasport, Maine.  She was known affectionately as “Winnie” to everyone who loved her welcoming smile.

Winnie was born in Pasadena, CA on February 16, 1932. Her family later moved to Peru, Indiana, where she spent her school years, graduating in the Class of 1950. From an early age she was actively involved in church life – singing in choirs, playing piano and organ, and serving as president of her church’s Baptist Youth Fellowship.  It was during a youth fellowship gathering that she first sensed God’s call to missionary service.

She then studied Bible and Christian Education at Gordon College for a year before training at New England Baptist School of Nursing, preparing for her early commitment to be a missionary nurse. While at Gordon College she met Paul Dodge.  They were married in 1953, and lived in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Kentucky as Paul pursued his theological studies. During those years she worked as a Public Health Nurse, and at a large hospital, gaining valuable experience for her future missionary service.

Winnie and Paul were appointed as missionaries to Thailand in March 1958 and would go on to serve for a total of 28 years!  They sailed for Bangkok in 1959, where they began language study and immersed themselves in Thai culture.

During their early missionary service in Thailand, Winnie helped found a jungle hospital where she trained local women as nurses and assisted in major surgery. She also was “the doctor” in charge when the doctor was away for long periods. At the same time, she taught their four sons during most of their elementary school years.

In the middle years of her service, she worked with church women of two hill tribe groups in Northern Thailand and helped Dr. Bina Sawyer train village leaders to be “barefoot doctors.” She also served as Head Nurse for a malnutrition research program at the government hospital in Chiang Mai and was the nurse at a school for expatriate children.

In the later years, she served as Head Nurse and Pharmacist for a 200-bed hospital in a camp for Cambodian refugees on the Thai-Cambodian border. Following that, while Paul was pastor of a Thai-Chinese church in the Bangkok area, she taught young Muslim children in the church’s day care program. After formal retirement, she and Paul returned to Asia on three occasions to teach at tribal seminaries in Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand.

Music was also a big part of her life. In her high school years, she studied piano and sang in a trio, and in college sang in a touring choir. Wherever she and Paul lived – even in the jungle – she had a piano. In later years she taught piano to many missionary children. Wherever they lived she sang in church choirs and chorales and was often the pianist or choir leader

Winnie is survived by her loving husband, Paul, and their four sons: Sherwood of Norwalk, Connecticut; Glen (Susan) of Sherwood, Arkansas; Forrest (Michelle) of Cleveland, in Queensland, Australia; and Brooks (Cricket, who died 3 days after Winnie’s passing) of Holtwood, Pennsylvania. Her passing was also mourned by 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends throughout the United States and globally.

She was pre-deceased by her parents, Francis Arthur and Alice Perry Drechsler of Toledo, Ohio, and her brothers, Francis Perry Drechsler also of Toledo, and William Glenn Drechsler of Maitland, Florida.

A celebration of her life of service to the Lord and to countless people took place in the Garden Spot Village Chapel, New Holland, PA on November 30, 2025, at 2 pm, with Pastor Chet Yoder officiating. Interment of her cremains will take place at a later date at the family plot in East Wilbraham, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Benevolence Fund, Garden Spot Village, 433 S. Kinzer Avenue, New Holland, PA 17557 or to International Ministries, ABC/USA.