Price, former big band singer, wife of late columnist, dies

Angela Soo

Thursday, May 3, 2001 | 8:30 a.m.

During the '40s and '50s, Dottie Price's love of singing took her to the stage with the big bands of Ray Noble and Jan Garber.

"They would call her 'the girl singer' back in those days," Patty Kunkel, Price's daughter, said. "She was born to entertain."

Price, professionally known as Dorothy Cordray, died April 26, on the 16th anniversary of the death of her husband, longtime Sun columnist Paul Price. She was 83.

Price was first introduced to music by her vaudeville-performing father, Charles Cordray.

"It was a great part of her life," Ginger Field, Price's younger sister, said.

Born July 23, 1917, in Minneapolis, Dottie Price was the second of three children.

"She started to sing so early," Field said. "We were all so proud of her."

She moved to Hollywood to pursue her career, where in 1942 she married her manager, Paul Price, who later became a Sun columnist. They had two daughters.

Field remembers the transition her sister made from show business to motherhood.

"She was singing for 15 to 20 years, but when she had children, she decided she wanted to be a mother," Field said. "She was ready to settle down with her family."

"She was a devoted wife to my dad for 43 years, and a great mom, grandma and great-grandma," Kunkel said.

The Prices moved to Las Vegas in 1960, when Paul Price was hired by the Sun, where he was a columnist until his death in 1985.

Dottie Price became acquainted with many types of people through her husband, family members say.

"My dad obviously ran through the power circle crowds, and she was always comfortable," Kunkel said.

Price was also a "wonderful humanitarian" who volunteered many years of service to St. Jude's Ranch for Children and St. Rose de Lima Hospital, now St. Rose Dominican, Kunkel said.

"She was always putting herself second," she said.

Price showed a bit of her selfless nature in her dating practices as a teenager, Field said. She didn't have a problem inviting her little sister along.

"Her dates would call her, and she always asked if she could bring Ginger," Field said. "One time she was supposed to baby-sit me, but got an invitation to go to the Wilshire Bowl. She said (to her date): 'Well, you have to take Ginger, too.' So she curled up my hair, dressed me up, and we went."

The family will hold a private service and burial Tuesday at Palm Mortuary.

Price is survived by two daughters, Pam Price and Kunkel of Las Vegas; one brother, Charles Cordray Jr., of Minneapolis; one sister, Field of Newport Beach, Calif.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.