Born in Aubrey, Texas, in 1936, Dortha Dever spent most of her life in Oklahoma. She attended Caney High School in southeast Oklahoma before moving to Oklahoma City and graduating from Oklahoma City University with a business degree. Dortha embarked on a successful banking career that included 32 years at American Fidelity Assurance Company.
Dortha credited her education with setting her on a path success. After retiring as assistant vice president of American Fidelity, she established the Dortha Dever Business Scholarship Fund in 2007 at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The scholarship supports women pursuing a business degree at Oklahoma City University.
Following Dortha's death in 2015, a gift from her estate created a second endowment at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation - the Dortha R. Dever Legacy Fund. This fund annually supports a number of charitable organizations and causes that were important to Ms. Dever including medical research and services for elderly citizens.