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· A life in the study

Dorothea Virginia Hegnauer

Born at Urbana in 1909 and died at Spokane in 1995.

born 14 Apr 1909 at Urbana, Champaign died 9 Jul 1995 at Spokane, Spokane

Also written Dorothy Virginia Hegnauer, Dorothy V. Hegnauer

Life story

Dorothea Virginia Hegnauer, known as Dorothy, was born on 14 April 1909 at Urbana, Illinois, the elder daughter of Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker. Her father was then studying agriculture at the University of Illinois.1–3 Her sister, Helen Edith, was born in May 1911.1 The family moved west with her father's work as an agricultural extension man, first to Oregon and then to Pullman, Washington (see his profile), where Dorothy grew up; she was living there with her parents and sister in 1920 and in 1930.4–5

Dorothy never married. In 1950 she was probably the Dorothy Hegnauer, born in Illinois, who was living at Union Gap, near Yakima.6 By 1963 she had settled in Spokane, where her parents had retired: when her father died there in November 1963 it was "Miss Dorothy Hegnauer" of North Girard Road who gave the details for his death certificate.7 She was still living in Spokane in the 1990s.8

Dorothy died at Spokane on 9 July 1995, aged eighty-six, and her obituary appeared in a Spokane paper five days later.2, 9 She was buried in the Pullman City Cemetery, where her parents lie.10

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Urbana, 1909
  • Death at Spokane, 1995
  • Burial at Pullman, 1995
  • 6 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Sources. Her father's death certificate (1963) was read on the image.

Sources

Sources 1–3

1 The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois, entry 2681, 1901

The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois, p. 384, entry 2681, Leonard Hegnauer: "Married Clara Edith Baker, Dec. 24, 1901. Children, Dorothea Virginia, b. Apr. 14, 1909; Helen Edith, b. May 23, 1911"; in "U.S., Family History Books," database with images, Ancestry.com.

2 United States, Obituaries, 1909

"United States, Obituaries, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1899–2012," database, FamilySearch, Miss Dorothy V. Hegnauer, obituary, Spokane, Washington; born 14 April 1909, Urbana, Illinois; died 9 July 1995, Spokane. FamilySearch record QVS3-S3BB Also "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages, 1980–2015," FamilySearch, Miss Dorothy V. Hegnauer, obituary 14 July 1995, Spokane (born 1909, Urbana, Illinois; the death date indexed as 14 July 1995). FamilySearch record QK4W-VCCQ (Index entries; the obituary itself has not been read.)

3 United States Census, 1910, 1909

"United States Census, 1910," database, FamilySearch, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois: Dorothea V. Hegnauer (born about 1909, Illinois), daughter of Leonard Hegnauer and "Dora E" [Clara E.] Hegnauer (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MKH4-5WT

Sources 4–5

4 United States Census, 1920, 1910

"United States Census, 1920," database, FamilySearch, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington: Dorothy Hegnauer (born about 1910, Illinois), daughter of "Lonard" and Edith Hegnauer, with her sister Helen (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MHFD-WM9 Also "1920 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com, Pullman, E.D. 177.

5 1930 United States Federal Census

"1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington, E.D. 67, index entry for Dorothy Hegnauer (record 112944651), as attached in the old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (details not read in this study).

Source 6

6 United States, Census, 1950, 1910

"United States, Census, 1950," database, FamilySearch, Union Gap, Yakima County, Washington, April 1950: Dorothy Hegnauer, born about 1910, Illinois (index entry; the image and the rest of the household have not been read). FamilySearch record 6X1H-2J51

Source 7

7 Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, 1963

Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 24507 (1963), Leonard Hegnauer, died 10 November 1963, Spokane; informant (daughter) Miss Dorothy Hegnauer, N. 2313 Girard Rd., Spokane; "Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907–2001," image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/C99EE2E92E41A84A0C8683A6E470BDE7), accessed 27 September 2026.

Source 8

8 United States, Public Records, 1909

"United States, Public Records, 1970–2009," database, FamilySearch, Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 April 1909, residence Spokane, Washington, 1 January 1993. FamilySearch record 2MDT-K8F Also "United States, Residence Database, 1970–2024," FamilySearch, Dorothy Hegnauer, born April 1909, July 1995. FamilySearch record 6TYL-6X3K

Source 9

9 United States, Social Security Death Index, 1909

"United States, Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch, Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 April 1909, died 9 July 1995, Spokane, Washington. FamilySearch record V3KP-JJ8 Also "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936–2007," FamilySearch, Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 April 1909, died 9 July 1995. FamilySearch record 6KWR-X473

Source 10

10 Find a Grave, memorial 70189153, 1909

Find a Grave, memorial 70189153, Dorothy Virginia Hegnauer (14 Apr 1909 – 9 Jul 1995), Pullman City Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington (findagrave.com/memorial/70189153); the search listing was read, the memorial page not viewed. Also "Find a Grave Index," FamilySearch. FamilySearch record QV2K-88KF

Life in time

14 Apr 1909

Birth , Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, United States

proven Sources 1, 2, 3, 9

How we know

Her father's alumni record gives 14 Apr 1909; an index of her obituary gives Urbana, Illinois.

Her father's University of Illinois alumni record, published in her childhood, names her "Dorothea Virginia, b. Apr. 14, 1909"; her Social Security death index entry and Find a Grave give the same day, and an index of her 1995 obituary gives her birthplace as Urbana, Illinois, where the family lived in 1910. No birth record has been seen.

  1. 1909 Birth 14 Apr 1909 · Urbana, Champaign · proven

    Her father's alumni record gives 14 Apr 1909; an index of her obituary gives Urbana, Illinois.

    Her father's University of Illinois alumni record, published in her childhood, names her "Dorothea Virginia, b. Apr. 14, 1909"; her Social Security death index entry and Find a Grave give the same day, and an index of her 1995 obituary gives her birthplace as Urbana, Illinois, where the family lived in 1910. No birth record has been seen.

    Sources 1, 2, 3, 9

  2. 1910 Residence Urbana, Champaign · proven

    Dorothea V., born about 1909 in Illinois, daughter of Leonard and "Dora E." [Clara E.] Hegnauer.

    FamilySearch's index of the 1910 census at Urbana; her parents identify her. The image has not been read.

    Source 3

  3. 1920 Residence Pullman, Whitman · proven

    Dorothy, born about 1910 in Illinois, daughter of "Lonard" and Edith Hegnauer, with her sister Helen.

    FamilySearch's and Ancestry's indexes of the 1920 census at Pullman; her parents and sister identify her. The image has not been read.

    Source 4

  4. 1930 Residence Pullman, Whitman · proven

    Index entry attached in the old family tree; its details have not been read.

    The old Ancestry tree attaches the 1930 census entry at Pullman to her, with those of her parents and sister.

    Source 5

  5. 1950 Residence Union Gap, Yakima · proven

    Dorothy Hegnauer, born about 1910 in Illinois (probably her; the household has not been read).

    FamilySearch's index of the 1950 census has a Dorothy Hegnauer, born about 1910 in Illinois, at Union Gap, Yakima County. The rare name, the birth year and the birthplace fit her, and no other Dorothy Hegnauer of that age is known in Washington; the image has not been read, so the identification is probable.

    Source 6

  6. 1963 Residence Nov 1963 · Spokane, Spokane · proven

    "Miss Dorothy Hegnauer, N. 2313 Girard Rd., Spokane", informant for her father's death certificate.

    Her father's death certificate, read on the image, names her as his daughter and gives her address.

    Source 7

  7. 1993 Residence Spokane, Spokane · proven

    Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 Apr 1909 (public-records index).

    A commercial address index gives her name and exact birth date at Spokane on 1 Jan 1993.

    Source 8

  8. 1995 Death 9 Jul 1995 · Spokane, Spokane · proven

    Aged 86. An obituary appeared in a Spokane paper on 14 Jul 1995.

    The Social Security Death Index gives 9 Jul 1995 at Spokane, with her birth date; an index of her obituary gives the same death date and place, and Find a Grave agrees. A second obituary index gives 14 Jul 1995, the date of the obituary, as the death date by mistake. No death certificate has been read.

    Sources 2, 9, 10

  9. 1995 Burial after 9 Jul 1995 · Pullman, Whitman · proven

    Pullman City Cemetery, where her parents are buried.

    Find a Grave and FamilySearch's index of it record her burial in Pullman City Cemetery; the memorial page and the burial date have not been seen.

    Source 10

  • proven

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Places in this life

4 places, in order
1 2 3 4
  1. 1 Urbana, Champaign County Birth 14 Apr 1909 · Residence 1910
  2. 2 Pullman, Whitman County Residence 1920 · Residence 1930 · Burial after 9 Jul 1995
  3. 3 Union Gap, Yakima County Residence 1950
  4. 4 Spokane, Spokane County Residence Nov 1963 · Residence 1993 · Death 9 Jul 1995

Family

This page Dorothea Virginia Hegnauer 1909–1995
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The evidence 9 facts with their grades, 10 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth 14 Apr 1909 Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, United States proven 1 , 2 , 3 , 9
Residence 1910 Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, United States proven 3
Residence 1920 Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States proven 4
Residence 1930 Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States proven 5
Residence 1950 Union Gap, Yakima, Washington, United States proven 6
Residence Nov 1963 Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States proven 7
Residence 1993 Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States proven 8
Death 9 Jul 1995 Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States proven 2 , 9 , 10
Burial after 9 Jul 1995 Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States proven 10

Research notes

  • Sources: Her father's death certificate (1963) was read on the image. Everything else comes from index entries: her father's alumni record (read), the censuses of 1910–1950 (FamilySearch and Ancestry indexes, images not read), address indexes, the Social Security Death Index and NUMIDENT, two obituary indexes and Find a Grave (search listing only).
  • Identity: Dorothea Virginia, born 14 Apr 1909 (her father's alumni record), is Dorothea V. of the 1910 census at Urbana and Dorothy of the 1920 census at Pullman, daughter of Leonard and Clara Edith; "Miss Dorothy Hegnauer" of Spokane, the informant on her father's death certificate; and Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 Apr 1909 at Urbana, who died at Spokane in 1995.1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 2
  • Corrections: The old family tree and the study's register gave her birth as about 1905; the records give 14 Apr 1909. The old tree's hint that she might be "Mrs. Richard W. Yeo" of her father's obituary is wrong: she was "Miss" in 1963 and 1995, and the Washington marriage index shows that her sister Helen married Richard W. Yeo in 1933 (see Helen's profile).7, 2
  • 1950 (probable): The Union Gap entry is a FamilySearch index line only; her occupation and household there should be read on the image.6
  • To read: her obituary (Spokane, 14 Jul 1995), which should give her education and working life; her Washington death certificate (1995).
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study.

Working notes

  • Daughter of H0012 and Clara Edith Baker; 1920 and 1930 Pullman, Wash. (6061/14137054, 6224/112944651); one of the Hegnauer daughters is "Mrs. Richard W. Yeo" in her father's 1963 obituary (61843/754638097); old tree 165462681 @I252683486349@
  • Known as Dorothy; never married (master record 27 Sep 2026)

Sources

  1. 1

    The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois, p. 384, entry 2681, Leonard Hegnauer: "Married Clara Edith Baker, Dec. 24, 1901. Children, Dorothea Virginia, b. Apr. 14, 1909; Helen Edith, b. May 23, 1911"; in "U.S., Family History Books," database with images, Ancestry.com.

  2. 2

    "United States, Obituaries, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1899–2012," database, FamilySearch, Miss Dorothy V. Hegnauer, obituary, Spokane, Washington; born 14 April 1909, Urbana, Illinois; died 9 July 1995, Spokane. FamilySearch record QVS3-S3BB Also "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages, 1980–2015," FamilySearch, Miss Dorothy V. Hegnauer, obituary 14 July 1995, Spokane (born 1909, Urbana, Illinois; the death date indexed as 14 July 1995). FamilySearch record QK4W-VCCQ (Index entries; the obituary itself has not been read.)

  3. 3

    "United States Census, 1910," database, FamilySearch, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois: Dorothea V. Hegnauer (born about 1909, Illinois), daughter of Leonard Hegnauer and "Dora E" [Clara E.] Hegnauer (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MKH4-5WT

  4. 4

    "United States Census, 1920," database, FamilySearch, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington: Dorothy Hegnauer (born about 1910, Illinois), daughter of "Lonard" and Edith Hegnauer, with her sister Helen (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MHFD-WM9 Also "1920 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com, Pullman, E.D. 177.

  5. 5

    "1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington, E.D. 67, index entry for Dorothy Hegnauer (record 112944651), as attached in the old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (details not read in this study).

  6. 6

    "United States, Census, 1950," database, FamilySearch, Union Gap, Yakima County, Washington, April 1950: Dorothy Hegnauer, born about 1910, Illinois (index entry; the image and the rest of the household have not been read). FamilySearch record 6X1H-2J51

  7. 7

    Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 24507 (1963), Leonard Hegnauer, died 10 November 1963, Spokane; informant (daughter) Miss Dorothy Hegnauer, N. 2313 Girard Rd., Spokane; "Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907–2001," image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/C99EE2E92E41A84A0C8683A6E470BDE7), accessed 27 September 2026.

  8. 8

    "United States, Public Records, 1970–2009," database, FamilySearch, Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 April 1909, residence Spokane, Washington, 1 January 1993. FamilySearch record 2MDT-K8F Also "United States, Residence Database, 1970–2024," FamilySearch, Dorothy Hegnauer, born April 1909, July 1995. FamilySearch record 6TYL-6X3K

  9. 9

    "United States, Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch, Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 April 1909, died 9 July 1995, Spokane, Washington. FamilySearch record V3KP-JJ8 Also "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936–2007," FamilySearch, Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 April 1909, died 9 July 1995. FamilySearch record 6KWR-X473

  10. 10

    Find a Grave, memorial 70189153, Dorothy Virginia Hegnauer (14 Apr 1909 – 9 Jul 1995), Pullman City Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington (findagrave.com/memorial/70189153); the search listing was read, the memorial page not viewed. Also "Find a Grave Index," FamilySearch. FamilySearch record QV2K-88KF