Dorene Acker Drum passed away on October 20, 2023, after several years of declining health.  She was born on August 15, 1940, in Allentown, PA to Edgar and Thelma Bossert Acker.  Her family moved to Norfolk, VA and then Charlotte, NC, where she finished high school at East Mecklenburg.  At the University of North Carolina, she met Norris Drum, her husband of over 60 years in a math class, and in 1963, she graduated with a Bachelor's in Math.  After graduation, Norris and Dorene were married on August 31, 1963, at Mouzon Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC.

For 3 years, she worked as an accountant in Charlotte before moving to Fremont, OH, where she taught high school math for 2 years.  In 1969, they moved to Greenville, NC where she taught before having two daughters and becoming a full-time mother and housewife.  In 1979, they moved to St. Albans, VT and lived there for 4 years, followed by 17 years in Avon Lake, OH.

As a homemaker, Dorene sewed clothes, her own, her daughters' and even Barbie clothes, and professionally customized Varsity jackets.  When people visited their home, they would always compliment her embroidery, cross stitch, and needlework.  Dorene coached the girls' softball teams, led Girl Scout troops, was the president of the school PTA, organized the band and football concession stands, and organized meals at their church for funerals.  By example, she taught her girls to be educated, to be active, to volunteer, and to work diligently.

They retired in 1997 and moved to Statesville, NC.  Dorene was an avid golfer and traveled the East Coast playing competitive duplicate bridge. In 2015, with their children living in Texas, they moved to Denton, TX.  During that time, even with declining health, she achieved the outstanding rank of Diamond Life Master. She stated that she wanted to play bridge to her death, even if we had to carry her to the table.  She played the week before her death.

Dorene is survived by her husband, Norris, two daughters, Sharon Harbach (Drew), Kelly Belz (Steven) and six grandchildren, Mitchell and Simon Belz and Evan, Emily, Heather, and A.J. Harbach.

Visitation will be November 24 from 4-6pm at DeBerry on University Drive in Denton, TX.