HARBACH, Dorothy [Allsup, Sanders] was born in Dayton, Ohio to Frederick and Laura Allsup (Staley), spending most of her life in her native city. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Christian Harbach.

Upon graduation from Otterbein College with a Bachelor of Music degree, she taught music in the Dayton Public Schools for two years. Early in her career, she handled special public relations assignments, such as a March of Dimes campaign in Springfield, Ohio and a presidential inauguration at Case Institute in Cleveland, and many public events related to the Dayton community. Later, she joined the staff of a Los Angeles public relations firm, developing broadcast material for the LA chapter of the Red Cross. Returning to Dayton, she became Sales Promotion Manager for WLWD, now WDTN, where during her fifteen year tenure, she brought such national news to the city such as the Lawrence Welk Program and the Tonight Show with Steve Allen. For the next fifteen years she joined Rikes stores, now Macys, as director of Public Relations, staging their annual Foreign Bazaars and many Christmas celebrations.

Because of her broadcast background, she established a broadcast advertising department for the company, and later one of their commercials was nominated for a national Clio Award. Always vitally involved in the community, she was president of the Dayton Ballet Board, Dayton Soroptimist Club, officer in the Dayton Advertising Club and the Broadcasters promotion Association, national chairman of the Retail Special Events Managers Group, and board member of the Victoria Theatre, an institution she is credited in leading the drive to save.

In 1954, Otterbein College Womens Club named her "Woman of the Year." In 1968 she won the Dayton Advertising Clubs Hermes Award, and in 1969, was honored with the title "Advertising Man of the Year" From the Soroptimists, she won their Service Club award in both 1987 and 1991 and their Lifetime Service Award in 1996. At Otterbein-Lebanon Retirement Community, where she resided in recent years, she was very active in musical presentations and literary groups. For two years she held the post of president of the Residents Council. She also served as resident representative on both the Otterbein-Lebanon Board and the Corporate Board of all Otterbein Facilities.

Doprothy was a long time member of the Oak Street/South Park United Methodist Church. She is survived by a stepson and daughter-in-law Dennis and Susan Harbach and grandson Kevin.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the South Park United Methodist Church, 140 Stonemill Rd. with Reverend Dr. Brooks Heck and Pastor Tom Miller officiating. Contributions can be made to the South Park United Methodist Church or Otterbein Benevolent Fund. Condolences can be sent to SchlientzandMoore.com.

Source - Dayton Daily News - Jul 11, 2011