Samuel Ralph Dove (1924-2009)

DOVE, AUSTIN, TREWALLAL, OVERTON, HELM, SMITHEY, MOLONE, GRACE

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 1/15/2018 at 07:14:28

Samuel Ralph Dove, son of Charles Elmer Dove and Thelma Estell (Trewalla) Dove, was born Feb. 15,1924, at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. and passed from this life March 9, 2009, at his home near Osceola, at 85 years of age.

Ralph lived in Capital Heights,Md. until his family moved to Des Moines when he was eight years old. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed in the Philippines. He was
united in marriage to Vernetta Ruth Austin on March 12,1944, in
Rossville, Ga. and two sons, Ralph and Richard, blessed this union.

Ralph was an inventor; he invented and built many machines. He invented a machine to help him turn tractor tires which he used until age 84. He operated Dove's Trenching Service in Des Moines but had been a farmer since moving to Osceola in 1963. Ralph was a member Capital Lodge No. 110 A.F. & A.M. and the Za Ga Zig Shrine Temple for over 50 years. He had a passion for machines of all kinds and especially Model A's. He attended First Baptist Church.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers,
Charles E. Jr., Robert Leonard and Lloyd Alvin. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 65 years, Vernetta Ruth Dove of Osceola; sons, Ralph L. (Maggie Grace) Dove of West Des Moines and Richard L. (Linda) Dove of Pensacola, Fla.; grandchildren, Melissa Ann (Thomas) Helm of Omaha, Neb., Laura Christine Dove of Arlington, Va., Michelle (John) Smithey of Pensacola, Fla., Richard D.(Susan) of Pensacola, Fla., Angela (Richard) Molone of Pensacola, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Madeline, Maxwell, Alexis,
Brooklyn and Madelyn; sister, Martha Kay Overton of Des
Moines; nephew, William Kent (Debbie) Austin of Creston,
who lived with them several years during his childhood; other
relatives and many friends.
Services were held at Kale Funeral Home on March 14, 2009, with Rev. Charles Austin officiating. Interment followed in the Fremont Cemetery in Clarke County.

Osceola Sentinel Tribune, March 19, 2009