Dorcas “Dordy” Elaine Boness, 94, passed away after a long illness with loving family present on March 27, 2026, at her home in Park Place Senior Living, Fort Wayne. Born on July 3, 1931, to Reverend Arno C. Scholz and Louise M. Scholz in Hot Springs, South Dakota, where her father was pastor at a Lutheran (Missouri Synod) church, Dorcas was the third child, with two sisters, Verna and Lois. Dorcas and her sisters are descended from a long line of Lutheran ministers.

When Dorcas was four months old, Reverend Scholz received a call to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to be a pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, which became due to his leadership one of the largest Missouri Synod congregations in the U.S. Prior to these ministerial assignments, Reverend Scholz and his wife Louise spent six years in Hankow (now Wuhan), China as Lutheran missionaries, setting up a church and school. Sisters Verna and Lois were born there. After attending grade school at Bethlehem, Dordy went to Concordia High School in Fort Wayne.

Sitting behind her on choir trips was Donald Boness, from the Chicago area, who would later become her husband. After graduation in 1949 Dorcas went to Concordia Teacher’s College in River Forest, Illinois (as did Don). With a shortage of Lutheran teachers, Dorcas accepted a job teaching in Little Rock, Arkansas, before she was finished with her undergraduate education studies. She also taught in Defiance, Ohio, at a Lutheran school.

Dorcas and Don married in 1954 and had a wonderful, loving marriage until Don passed away in 1994. They were blessed with two children, David Arno Boness in 1958 and Donna Louise Boness in 1962. In 1965 Dordy was recruited to set up and teach a new kindergarten program at St. Peter’s Lutheran School in Fort Wayne, where she served for three decades. Dordy’s love of children’s education was apparent to all, and many former kindergarteners kept in contact with her for many years. Her teaching was always centered on faith, love, and compassion. She retired in 1994.

Dorcas was preceded in death by her parents Arno and Louise, her husband Don, her sisters Verna (Henry) Blanke and Lois (Robert) Blanke, and recently by her daughter Donna Grasso. She is survived by her loving son David (Katy) Boness, her four wonderful granddaughters Lauren Richwine, Sophie (Sean Fitzpatrick) Boness, Amy (Joseph) Sordelet, and Meg (Jacob) Todd, as well as by six blessed great-grandchildren: Ariadne, Willa, Indiana, Theodore, Solomon, and Margot. She also leaves behind her beloved cat, Callie, in the care of former son-in-law, Philemon Steigerwald.

Service will be 11 am, Friday, April 10, 2026 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 7710 E. State Blvd, with calling one hour prior. A private family burial will take place.

Memorials may be sent to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church or School. Dorcas was a dedicated and active congregant since the early 1960s. She bore witness every day of her life to Jesus’ love and salvation. Her intense faith and love of her family and dear friends gave her comfort, strength, and daily support during the last trying year of her life. Her memory continues to serve as an inspiration to all who knew her. Dorcas will be deeply missed. FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.