Doris Hahn

September 11, 1931 – September 19, 2025

Doris in her own words: The Category of Experiment

Obituary

Doris Gail Schulze Hahn, 94, of Bloomington, Indiana, completed her journey on earth on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Stonecroft Health Campus in Bloomington. Doris was born on September 11, 1931, in Mission, Texas, the elder daughter of Edith (Whitson) Schulze and Dewey William Schulze, and sister to Linda.

An excellent student and natural athlete, Doris was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by her Mission High School classmates in 1949. Doris went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) and a master’s degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. While at Perkins, Doris met Charles Hahn, a Divinity student. They married in 1955.

Doris and Charles welcomed daughter, Marsha, in 1957, and a second daughter, Shelley, in 1960, while Charles served as pastor for several churches in the United Methodist Church Southwest Texas Conference. In 1964, they moved to Chicago to work with the Ecumenical Institute (EI) and then the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), initially teaching courses in religious and cultural studies and later doing community development work around the world. For two years Doris served on the 5-member international leadership team for the ICA, helping to guide and support its mission worldwide. During their work with these organizations, Doris and Charles lived in: Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; London and Yorkshire, England; Brussels, Belgium; Mumbai, India; and Houston, TX.

After 22 years working with the EI and ICA, Doris & Charles returned to Central Texas to care for Doris’s mother toward the end of her life. While Charles returned to parish ministry, Doris worked for a small biotech company. She rediscovered her love of photography, as she photographed wildflowers throughout Texas and beyond. Doris loved having more time with her Texas family—her sister, Linda, brother-in-law, Jerry, and their children, Jennifer and David.

Doris and Charles embraced Bloomington as their home after moving here in 2004 to be closer to their daughters. Doris volunteered with Shalom Community Center and was active with First United Methodist Church, including the Phoebe Circle of the United Women in Faith.

Doris will be remembered for her love of family, community and the planet, and her faithful service to others. She was ahead of her time in many ways, a pioneer in claiming her own identity as a woman. She was a rock, a mentor and a source of wisdom for many. Along with her strength, she maintained a dry sense of humor and an unwavering commitment to good grammar.

Doris was preceded in death by Charles and is survived by daughters Marsha Hahn (Patrick Moriarty) of Everett, WA, and Shelley Hahn (Gregory Simon) of Bloomington, IN; grandson Erin Stansbury (Phairin Nainon) and great grandchildren Samuel, Margo, Annalee, and William Stansbury, and Phummiphat Mukda of Snohomish, WA; sister, Linda (Jerrold) Paine of Houston, TX; niece, Jennifer (Gregg) Costa of Houston, TX; and nephew, David Paine (Rebekah Post) of Seattle, WA.

Remembrances

Dear Marsha and Shelley, I’m holding you in my heart as you grieve and celebrate the death of your Mother, Doris. She lived a life of service in whatever role she played in the family; she was a colleague, and friend; she sat on my meditative council. I remember her most clearly as we entered India for the first time – Doris welcomed Fred and me at the door of our Religious House in Bombay as we entered in somewhat of a trance. Arriving the night before in the old Delhi airport, sleeping on the floor with the other travelers, and finally arriving on Sankli Street. Doris and Charles offered us their small bed to rest on for a while before leaving on the bus for an overnight to Maliwada. I remember calling theirm, “our Angels” . Following us during our time in India, Doris continued to mentor, guide and care for me. After she returned to Chicago, she sent photos of our daughter Sandra that she had taken in the Student House. I will miss her and yet, know that her presence and spirit linger with us all forever. Sent with love to you, Shelley and Marsha and your families.

~~ Nancy Lanphear

Marsha and Shelley, I sit in gratitude for the woman your mother was, for her mentoring me, her deep and gentle wisdom and her guidance that kept me grounded and sane as I struggled to fulfill assignments and live in service while feeling out of my depth much of the time. A sainted presence I miss. May your own memories carry you through the grief. With love,

~~ Sunny Walker

I was so sad to hear of Doris’ passing. I too add my voice to the honour roll of your mother’s life of service. While I first met Doris in Chicago it wasn’t till our paths crossed in India that I really encountered the ‘greatness’ in both your mom and dad. I remember Charles, in a meeting in India very clearly articulating the tension between our financially constrained circumstances and our sense of responsibility, when he said “the ICA always honours our obligations.. we may just not do it in the timeframes expected of us”. I joined the “LENS” team in India when Doris was leading it, and among the many things I learned from her was that profound care for a client is also exhibited in the details. Her comment to a colleague then about the state of the polish on his shoes has me looking down at my shoes every time I stand in front of a group. I celebrate a great life lived.

~~ Kevin Balm

I would like to join the chorus of appreciation for your mother’s life! She was an incredible tower of strength and so caring at a point in my life when I needed it. I celebrate her being!

~~ Blase Sands

My heart is breaking with this news. It feels like there’s a big hole in it that Doris had once filled. She was a wonderful, wonderful human being!
~~ Martha Laird

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. She was a fantastic woman who cared deeply for all people, no matter what—race, background, or religion.

I have fond memories. of her over the years. She will be missed by all the people whom she had impacted by her LOVE.

~~ A.M. Noel

The passing of a dear legacy of love for All and full of wisdom about living life🦋 Grace and Peace

~~ Wanda Holcombe

As they say, “a great tree has fallen in the forest”. We will miss her presence and the wisdom of her years. Like others in our community, I shall remember working with her, and her keen observations and gentle humour. With love,

~~ Dharma

Remembrances

What a beautiful service, Shelly and Marsha!!! Thank you for crafting a perfect Memorial to your Mom! Love,

~~ Marilyn Crocker

Thank you for this beautiful service in celebration of Doris. We were blessed to be present and remember her with the family and friends. She was truly a pioneer of strength with gentleness and love. We pray your family is comforted to know she lived such an authentic life. Your care and concern for her was evident. She and Charles will remain part of our saints council. Love, joy and peace,

~~ Jack and Louise Ballard

I first met Doris Hahn when I took the Institute’s Pastor Leadership Colloquy (PLC) in New York in 1969. She was one of the pedagogues for the course and she certainly showed her gift for teaching! I was impressed! What also made an impression on me was when some weeks later she dropped in to talk to me personally while visiting the Dewey Avenue Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY as a way of following up on the course. At that time, I was Assistant to the Senior Pastor Charles Taylor. Doris was not only a gifted teacher, but she was also a very kind, diligent, and dedicated worker for the Order and it’s mission. We indeed celebrate her life and mourn her passing!

~~ Carleton and Ellie Stock

Doris always reflected depth and inner resilience to me. She showed me Southern grace and insight. I loved your Mum as a mentor and as a friend. Doris showed me grace and a quiet deep inner strength. May her legacy live on. May your hearts be receptacles of her kindness, grace and deep unfathomable ways. With my love,

~~ Isobel Bishop

Charles and Doris were the ‘priors’ in the small groups that met in the Westside (not remembering what we called them!) over dinner and did some studies. Doris became (not sure she was aware) my mentor in learning and discovering my journey – her compassion, intelligence and direct nature was opening for me. She even trusted me to babysit (if that’s still a term) for Marsha and Shelley!

~~ Bill Schlesinger

Judy and I recall the privilege of knowing and working with Doris — her steadfast lovingness, her sage advice, her own “putting her body on the line” and her always playing the long game — whether in living and living and living or in those pauses in conversation when she looks briefly into eternity before responding.

A personal reflection in 1967: Our group on the West Side was organized into Colleges and teams and we were “experimenting” with specific accountability. Doris was my team prior. The focus of the accountability ritual was on Daily Office attendance and we had whittled down the question to “Were you present and on time for Daily Office 7 mornings last week?” And the answer was your name and either “Yes” or “No”. I had answered “No” for maybe 2 weeks in a row, and my team was having a conversation with me about this. It had been clarified that Daily Office was a most important ritual and attendance or non-attendance was clearly a sign of commitment or lack of commitment to “being the Church”, “the rule of the Order”, “our mission”, etc. And it was clear to me that I did not measure up and the only course of action available was to pack up my bags and leave (which, it was pointed out) I had already done by my non-attendance at Daily Office. Just before I could stand up and walk out, Doris spoke, in that drawn out voice of hers (I can still hear her) “Well, James,” she said, “WHAT WOULD IT TAKE for you to be present and on time for daily office 7 times in this next week?” Ah, the wretch I was saw a chance for new life. I think I said if I was assigned to wake up everyone at the Program Center, then I would get to Daily Office.

That question, “Well, James, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE?” Is with me still and has served me well in many touchy moments. Doris is still in my heart and will be always as many of you have testified– what a woman, what a saint, what a life.

~~ Jim Wiegel

“A rock, a mentor, a source of wisdom for many.” A beautifully written piece about Doris. You have captured her well. It takes me to so many moments with her. Here are a few.

One was in early 1975. She was leading an RS-1, and I was the fourth teacher, which meant leading the art-form conversation about Guernica. I still remember the gentle encouragement she gave me during the Sunday afternoon review conversation after the course. It was so encouraging to me. “You got people engaged”.

During the town meeting campaign a few years later, I remember her words as a colleague and I left the house through the kitchen door. I am not sure she was impressed with the plan we were about to implement. “Make sure you do this well”, a comment intended to both encourage and correct.

When Christine and I announced our engagement, Doris and Charles were the first to congratulate us. I remember the delight and pride of Charles and Doris when their daughters came to visit the Brussels House. Thank you Doris!

~~ Paul Schrijnen

When I attended “Summer ’66: Beyond Protest” in Fifth City, Doris was one of three staff for our university group. She was a daily presence for six wonderful weeks – with her unique teaching style and care for us as well as 5^th City. She always demonstrated profound care throughout her life. I am adding a photo of her to my ofrenda (altar) to remember her always. Peace and love,

~~ Karen Snyder Troxel

Doris and Charles were a big part of the loving foundation of the Order:Ecumenical, and they were each very kind to the Lingo family over the years. I am especially appreciative of your mother’s Texas roots. Her attentiveness to obituaries in the Austin Statesman and her reporting to all of us of the death of Jack Lewis was very helpful to me. Both of your parents lived lives of exemplary devotion and integrity! What a blessing! May we now celebrate Doris’ very great life.

~~ Charles Lingo

In many locations (India, central Texas, Doris and Charles were our rocks, our wisdom and our friends. I am remembering foot massage at a WSR in her yard in Bastrop. Celebrating her life, and all our loss.

~~ Mary and Stuart Hampton

I remember working with Doris with great fondness and appreciation. Another saint has gone marching in. . .

~~ Seth T. Longacre

My memories of Doris are diverse, i remember as a child being a little scared of her stern presence and then as an adult experiencing the profound care, humor and love of her spirit (still serious and stern a lot the time but my sense of it was transformed by understanding the deep love and service behind it ). With love and respect
~~ Larry and Evelyn Philbrook