Memorial Scholarships & Grants

Dorothy “Dodo” Plath was a dynamic and philanthropic community member and a graciously devoted mother and wife. Dorothy was born in 1925 to Yakima’s prominent Davis family: her father was A.C. Davis for whom the local high school is named. She grew up excelling at academics, graduating from Yakima High in 1941 at the age of 16. She attended Yakima Junior College and then on to University of Washington, graduating in 1945 magna cum laude at the age of 20. She was a proud active lifetime member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Upon graduating from UW, Dorothy became a statistician and researcher with the West Council of Cannery Workers, a union affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Dorothy became a dedicated member of the League of Women Voters, was involved with board positions on the YWCA and the State Board of Community College Education. She was instrumental in the development of the Yakima Tennis Club and a founding member of The Russians reading group.

In 1948 Dorothy married her equal in love, life and character, Fred Plath. She and Fred began giving back to the valley and industry that had given them so much. The Plath Pathway, Washington Apple Education Foundation Scholarships and Plath Hall at JM Perry bear their name but were gifts from the heart and were organizations that they firmly believed in and made a positive difference.

They loved being able to be a part of something that improved, empowered, enriched and of course educated! Dorothy and Fred were blessed with three sons, Peter (Bea), Rick (Lisa) and Cliff (Janie), seven grandchildren, Daniel (Bri) Plath, Leslie (Jacob) Johnson, Katy Plath, Marianne Plath (Hunter), Nick Plath (Monica), Gilbert Plath and Sarah Plath, and five great-grandchildren, Davis, Bennett & Graham Plath and Charley and Grady Johnson.