Indianapolis Star
March 28, 2010

Reverend Dorothy Catherine Colgan Hinds 95, Franklin, IN passed away Friday, March 26, 2010. Services: Tues., March 30, 10:30 A.M. at the Wright Memorial Chapel of The Franklin United Methodist Community. Visitation: 3 - 7 P.M., Mon., March 29 at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center and Tuesday from 9:30 AM till service time at the church. Burial: Maple Grove Cemetery in Brookville


Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin 
April 2, 2010

Reverend Dorothy Catherine (Colgan) Hinds, 95, of the Franklin United Methodist Community passed away Friday, March 26, 2010. She was born June 1, 1914 in Flemingsburg, Kentucky to Lawrence T. Colgan and Anna Bell (Hamm) Colgan. She married Louie H. Hinds Sr. on August 19, 1933, he preceded her in death in 1989. Rev. Hinds grew up in a Christian home, the oldest of seven children. She was a teenager when she first felt God's call at Camp Rivervale. But how could a girl preach? That was a man's job, preachers were men. God kept calling Dorothy and she became one of the first women to preach in South Indiana United Methodist Conference churches. After she married Louie H. Hinds Sr., they had a son Louie H. Hinds Jr. and lived on a farm. During this time, Dorothy was active in Farm Bureau and Home Economic Clubs. She was a district officer in WSCS and taught at Sunday School, camps and workshops. Dorothy became desperately ill, and her husband and parents were told she would not live.

For months, she lay in the hospital. Then God told her she would live, if she would preach. When she got the nerve to tell her husband, she found he was very supportive. At that time, women were not allowed to attend seminary, so Dorothy enrolled in the local pastor's study course and completed her studies at home. During her course work, she was required to write papers and sermons which she had to send off to be graded. In addition, she traveled to various colleges to take examinations. She received her exhorter's license in 1949 and the local preacher's license in 1950. In 1954, Dorothy was assigned to the Napoleon charges. In 1955, she was ordained a deacon and finally ordained an elder in 1957.

Many pastors in the Conference were not in favor of a woman preacher; however, they realized she was called by God. There was some resistance at each new local church assignment, but after they got to know her, the parishioners loved her. In fact, one church gave her a trip to Egypt and to the Holy Land.

Dorothy served 30 years before retirement, at Napoleon-Delaware-Zion-Holton, Manchester-St.Paul-Wrights Comer, Aberdeen-East Enterprise-Mount Pleasant-Mount Carmel-Fairview-Allensville, Sandusky-Adams, and College Corner. Under her leadership, four churches merged and a new church was built. She served at church camps for 33 years, as student, a teacher, and a counselor- with children, youth and women. Retirement brought her time to write three books of poetry, God Loves You, Volumes I, II, and III.

Dorothy has lived at the Franklin United Methodist Community since 1999. Survivors include two granddaughters Jill Hinds Curiel and her husband Michael of Bennett, CO, and Jennifer Bandy and her husband Tom of Knoxville, TN, two great granddaughters Jenna Bandy and Lauren Bandy, two sisters Hazel Colgan Sumwalt Brett and her Husband Rev. Leland Brett both of the Franklin United Methodist Community, and Ruth Colgan Armstrong of Marion, IN, a daughter in law Maxine Hinds of Sevierville, TN, two sister in laws Mary Colgan and Marjorie Colgan of Bedford, IN , and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Louie H. Hinds Sr., a son Louie H. Hinds Jr. on November 21, 2006, four brothers Willard Colgan, Lawrence "Larry" Colgan, Earl Colgan, and Wilson Colgan.

The Rev. Robert Coleman will conduct a service Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 10:30 A.M. at the Wright Memorial Chapel of the Franklin United Methodist Community, 1070 West Jefferson Street, Franklin, IN, with a graveside service to follow at 3:00 P.M. at Maple Grove Cemetery in Brookville, IN.