Dorothea C. Kleppinger

Dr. Dorothea C. Kleppinger, 79, a longtime physician and civic leader, formerly of Cumru Township, died Nov. 8 in the Highlands at Wyomissing, where she had resided since 2000.

Her husband, Dr. Richard K. Kleppinger, died in March 1996.

Born in Kutztown, she was a daughter of the late Rev. Jacob W. and Carrie (Rauch) Bittner.

Kleppinger practiced family medicine in Kutztown from 1950 to 1958. She was director of the Health Education Center at Reading Hospital, 1964-72, and medical director at the Lutheran Home at Topton, 1976-78.

She was a clinician for Planned Parenthood from 1951 until 1981, and served on its advisory board for eleven years. She was a lecturer on human sexuality for 32 years.

Kleppinger served on the Gov. Mifflin School Board from 1962 until 1966.

Kleppinger was a former trustee of Muhlenberg College. She was a director of the Bucknell University Alumni Asssociation from 1968 until 1973, and was president of the local Bucknell alumni from 1958 until 1975. She received Bucknell's Alumni Award for Service to Fellowmen in 1975.

Kleppinger also served on the board of trustees of The Lutheran Home at Topton and the board of governors at Hahnemann University, Philadelphia.

She was a director of the AAA Reading-Berks from 1972 to 1985 and served as president 1985-97. She was a past member of the women's center advisory council at Reading Hospital.

Kleppinger was a former director of the Berks County Board of Mental Health. She was a winner of the YWCA Trendsetter Award.

She was featured in a documentary video of Berks women pioneers in 1986 and was listed in Who's Who of American Women.

She was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church, Wyomissing.

Kleppinger was valedictorian of Lankenau School for Girls in 1940. She received a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University in 1944 and a medical degree from Hahnemann University in 1948.

She is survived by a son, Trygve M., Reading, and a daughter, Kimberly (Kleppinger) Sisisky, Jacksonville, Fla.

There are also two granddaughters.

Services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Atonement Church, 5 Wyomissing Blvd., Wyomissing, Pa 19610. Viewings Monday evening 6 - 8 p.m. in the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading and Tuesday morning 10 a.m. in the church until time of service. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the church or to the Richard K. Kleppinger Resident Research Fund c/o Dr. Peter Schwartz, Reading Hospital and Medical Center, P.O. Box 16052, Reading, Pa., 19612