Dolores (Dee) Sylvia (Riha) DeBow

Dolores  - dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend - passed away in her home in Gold Canyon, Arizona on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
Dee was born in Oak Park, Illinois on September 6, 1932 to very proud parents Louis and Sylvia Riha. Upon graduating high school, her adventures led her to Tempe, AZ. She worked as a telephone operator for AT&T and lived in the back of a citrus stand run by her aunt and uncle. While cruising Main Street in 1952, she met her future husband Robert (Bob) DeBow who was stationed at Williams Air Force Base. They were married in Chicago in August 1954. In 1957 while living in New Jersey, they welcomed their first child, Patricia. Two years later, they also welcomed the birth of Robert.
Together over the years, Dee and Bob owned and managed a construction company, restaurant, rental properties and a printing business. Dee’s favorite job was as a typesetter. In 1973, they decided to move back to Arizona and settled in Apache Junction. Dee was actively raising teenagers and managing the books for all of Bob’s business ventures. In her later years, being a grandmother and great grandmother came naturally to Dee. She loved participating in their lives as they grew up and traveling to see them. She was known as Gram, Grammie, Gma and GG.
Through the years she was an avid traveler and traveled the world. She was very competitive and loved playing games with friends and family. She said that you always pay your gambling debts even if it is just a penny or it is bad luck. Dee volunteered with numerous organizations such as AJ Library, AJ Performing Arts, CAFA, Friends of the Boys and Girls Club and Central AZ Life Long Learning. She was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi and organized a theater group.
Dee is survived by Robert DeBow (Elaine); four grandchildren, Jessica (Chris), Cooter (Kristen), Ryan (Cassie), Erin (Brian); nine great grandchildren, Cole, Dalton, Topher, Decker, Baker, Karsen, Danika, Addy, Ben.
Donations in Leiu of Flowers to be made to Apache Jct. Boys & Girls Club, 2805 S. Ironwood Dr, Apache Junction, AZ 85120 • (480) 982-6381