Dorothy Ann “Dotti” Eiker, age 86, of Queens, WV, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 10, 2026, at WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Nursing Care Facility in Buckhannon, WV.
Born on April 8, 1940, in Washington, D.C., Dotti was the daughter of the late Joseph Clark and Georgie Wolfe White. On December 18, 1965, she married the love of her life, Walter Eiker, Jr., who survives.
Also surviving are her two daughters, Amanda Eiker Love and husband Bryan of Fairfax Station, VA, and Cara Patti and husband Brendan of Oxford, PA; three grandsons, Brayden Love and wife Amanda of Vicenza, Italy, Jack Love of Burlington, VT, and Elijah Love of Fairfax Station; one granddaughter, Grace Patti of Oxford; two sisters, Isabel Nicholson of Queens and Marjorie Ebbenhouse and husband Joseph of Taylors Island, MD; and several beloved nieces and nephews. She was especially excited to welcome her first great-grandchild, expected to arrive this fall.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Katherine Harper.
Dotti graduated from Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, MD, with the Class of 1958 and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from the University of Maryland in 1962. Walt’s career took them all over the U.S., settling in Pennsylvania before retiring in her beloved Middle Fork Club in Queens.
Dotti’s life was a tapestry of color, kindness, conversation, and unwavering devotion to others. Selfless by nature, she gave without hesitation, loved without condition, and showed up for family, friends, and her community in ways that left lasting impressions.
Her spirit of service was reflected in her many years volunteering with the Girl Scouts of America, serving at St. Christopher’s (Oxford) and Church of the Transfiguration (Buckhannon), and quietly helping those around her whenever there was a need.
A woman who loved decorating for the Fourth of July, Dotti embraced celebration as a way of life. Her home was often a beacon of patriotic sparkle, warmth, and welcome—a reflection of the pride she carried in her heart and the joy she found in bringing people together. Family reunions, holiday gatherings, and special occasions were among her greatest pleasures, and she was often at the center of making them memorable.
Above all, Dotti cherished her family. Her four grandchildren were the lights of her life, and she never tired of sharing stories of their accomplishments, adventures, and milestones. Every visit, every laugh, and every memory with them was treasured beyond measure.
A fervent conversationalist, Dotti had a gift for connection. She could transform an ordinary porch visit into a memorable exchange filled with laughter, thoughtful discussion, and genuine interest in others. She made people feel seen, heard, and valued, and her conversations will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.
Dotti also found peace and purpose in growing things. A lifelong horticulturist, she nurtured plants with the same care and patience she gave to people. Whether tending a garden or sharing advice with fellow gardeners, she found joy in cultivating beauty and life.
She held a deep love for the mountains of West Virginia and cherished her years at the Middle Fork Club, where she found both solace and community among the hills she loved so dearly.
Dotti leaves behind a legacy of love, vibrancy, generosity, and wholehearted living. She will be remembered for the beauty she created, the kindness she shared, the lives she touched, and the conversations that will continue to echo in the hearts of those fortunate enough to have known her.
In honoring her wishes, Mrs. Eiker will be cremated, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Mercy Ships, PO Box 1930, Garden Valley, TX 75771, by phone at (903) 939-7080, or online at www.mercyships.org.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
