Dolly Brenneman Diehl

Mrs. J. Darlene ""Dolly"" Brenneman Diehl passed away peacefully in the Palliative Care unit at the Forsyth Medical Center on March 8, 2017. She was a member of the Unity Moravian Church in Lewisville, NC. She was born April 23, 1941, in Friendsville, MD, to the late Rhuea Fay Livingood Brenneman and Audley Norris Brenneman. She spent her early years growing up in Albright, WV. When she was 9 years old she went to live in Frostburg, MD, with her aunt and uncle, the late Madesta Brenneman Shuck and William A. Shuck, who raised her to adulthood. Dolly attended Saint Michael's Elementary School and was a 1959 graduate from Beall High School. She loved animals from an early age, and few photos of her can be found that do not include a horse, dog, or cat. She liked to ride horses for pleasure, but also had a competitive spirit. During the 1970's she could be found riding gaited Saddlebreds in horse shows in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In 1982 she decided to leave the corporate world to pursue a new career. She served a six month apprenticeship to learn to groom dogs. After moving to Lewisville, NC, she worked as a groomer in shops in Pfafftown, Oldtown, and Clemmons prior to grooming at home. She continued to groom dogs and cats until last year. All the dogs she groomed became 'her' dogs. She worked as a volunteer with a local Wildlife Rehab group that took care of injured or abandoned wild animals and birds until they could be returned to their natural habitat. She enjoyed playing golf, and was a member of the Oak Valley Ladies Golf Association. After purchasing her Paso Fino horse named Filon, there were trail riding trips with good friends Tom and Martha or Bill and Pinky to Blowing Rock, Stone Mountain, Uwharrie Forest, Hungry Horse, Natural Bridge or just an afternoon ""in the bottoms"". And you can't forget the vacations with Mike and Carol to Cancun, Aruba, Hawaii, Belize, Turks and Caicos to snorkel, play golf, or just a day on the beach. After rescuing a female Lab with 6 newborn pups, Dolly cared for them until the pups were old enough to be adopted. Nobody seemed to want the 'black one', so she became Dolly's, and was named Ebony. Dolly and Ebony joined the Winston-Salem Dog Training Club, and were soon going to Agility Trials in NC, SC and VA. They both retired from competition 5 years ago because of 'bad knees'. Dolly became an instructor at the club teaching Rally classes, and volunteering to help in the various trials and activities that the club sponsored. She liked to cross stitch, and has 3 blue ribbons from entries judged in the Dixie Classic Fair. Other activities include baking and tending to her indoor plants and outdoor natural areas. Dolly was preceded in death by brothers, Harvey A. Brenneman, and Robert ""Joby"" Brenneman; sister, Martha Jean Bolyard. She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Frank M. Diehl of Lewisville, NC; stepsons, Mark D. Diehl (Sharon) of Cumberland, MD, Jeffrey A. Diehl (Carole) of Frostburg, MD; stepdaughter, Susan B. Sanders (Dennis) of Fairfield, PA; nieces, Robin Gazzanigo of Viginia Beach, VA, Roxann Borish (Ronald) of Keizer, OR, Mary Bolyard of Columbiana, OH, Janet Bolyard Kelly, of Panacea, FL, and Tammy Barlow (Mike) of Tunnelton, WV; nephews, Robert Brenneman (Marie) and Richard Brenneman (Rosie) of Virginia Beach , VA , Steve Bolyard of North Lima, OH, and Keith Brenneman of Tunnelton, WV. Following cremation, her ashes will be interred with her aunt and uncle in Frostburg, MD at a future date. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 3:00 PM at the Unity Moravian Church, 8300 Concord Church Rd, Lewisville, NC 27023. Dolly has requested that any gifts made in her memory go to the church or the Forsyth Humane Society, 4881 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27104. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

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