Obituaries

Rose Dover

Rose Marie Whitehead Dover, 89, of East Ridge, died on Friday, May 17, 2019, at her home at Hickory Valley Retirement Center. Born on Feb. 21, 1930, she was a life-long resident of Chattanooga, attending Ridgedale Elementary, East Side Junior High, and Chattanooga Central High School (Class of 1947). She graduated in 1953 from Asbury College, where she majored in music theory. She had a God-given musical gift that she shared with others throughout her life. In her early childhood she sang with her family and friends at St. James Methodist Church, and then became the accompanist for others, including the evangelist, Ford Philpot, during her college years. She had the unique ability to play the piano equally well by both sheet music and ‘by ear’, and found great pleasure in helping others develop their musical abilities. As her late husband, Charlie, once said, “She was one of those lucky people who get to do what they love for a living.” In her educational career she taught choral music, first at Red Bank and Dupont Elementary Schools in the 1950s, at both East Ridge Junior and Senior High School from the 1960s to the 1970s, then solely at East Ridge High School from the 1970s until her retirement in 1991. Each year her students had numerous opportunities to develop and display their choral abilities, particularly through the “Showboat” production in the Fall and the musical in the Spring. She also took her students on periodic national and international choral trips. After her retirement in 1991, she taught Choral Music at Chattanooga State Community College for two years, served as the secretary of the Choral Arts Society for several years, and sang in the Scenic City Chorale. She was also a member for more than 60 years of the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. In her church music career she served first as the Choir Director and Organist at Lookout Mountain Baptist Church from 1957 to 1970, and then as the Music Director at Tyner United Methodist Church for 39 years (1970 - 2009). Her desire for others to have opportunities to develop and display their choral abilities was seen here, as well, particularly through the annual “Christmas Madrigal Dinner”, a three-course dinner meal which she led from 1984 - 2008. More than anything else, she lived her life in a joyful relationship with Jesus Christ, and we are all the beneficiaries of this relationship. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Charles David Dover; parents, Claud Winsett Whitehead and Ethel Mae McClellan; step-sister, Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Whitehead; sisters, Anna Mae “Ann” Whitehead (Paul) Grout, Vesta Whitehead, and Ruth Hannah Whitehead; brothers, Wesley Brock Whitehead, Claud Winsett Whitehead, Jr., Alta Whitehead, and Paul Willis Whitehead; sister-in-law, Elizabeth “Betty” Dover Sallee; brother-in-laws Rev. Paul Grout and Conrad Hale “Doc” Dover. She is survived by her sons, Christopher Charles (Rhonda) Dover, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Donald Alan (Brenda) Dover, LaVergne, Tenn.; seven grandchildren: Krista Michelle (Miguel Benavente) Dover, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, Christopher Michael (Crystal Hixson) Dover, and Alicia Deneane (Shawn) Asconi, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Charles David Dover II, LaVergne, Tenn.; Carrie Marie Paige Dover, California; Julia Marie Harbaugh, Trenton, Ga., and Phillip (Megan) Hixson, Beaumont, TX; and great-grandchildren, Kylie Grace Hixson, Emily Faith Dover, Reagan Carolina Asconi, Carson Judah Asconi, Cooper McClane Asconi, Presley Jolene Asconi, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Zach Hixson, McKenzie Hixson, Angel Hixson, Beaumont, TX; Ariana Harbaugh, Kaelin Rose Harbaugh, Trenton, Ga.; brother-in-law, Sanford (Mary) Dover, Dalton, Ga.; sister-in-laws: Mary Kyle Whitehead, Grand Rapids, MI, and Myrna Daniels Whitehead, Chattanooga. The family will receive friends from 2 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 31, in the sanctuary of Tyner United Methodist Church, and the Celebration of her life and ministry will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, also in the Tyner UMC sanctuary, with the Rev. Charlie Harrison officiating. Burial will follow at Lakewood Memory Gardens, South. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the Music or the General Fund of Tyner United Methodist Church, 6805 Standifer Gap Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421. A special thanks to Hospice of Chattanooga for the loving care they gave Rose, and also to the many friends from Tyner United Methodist Church for their time, love and support. Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Rd. East Ridge, TN 37412. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com

Published May 29, 2019

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