Rev. Whitney Dough

Rev. Whitney James Dough, 90, of Harmony, N.C., passed away Thursday, February 10, 2011, at the Gordon Hospice House, Statesville, N.C. Rev. Dough was born November 2, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA, and was the son of the late Whitney and Ethel Myrtle Palmer Dough. He grew up in the state of Delaware and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After playing in an Army band during WWII, he was graduated from the University of Delaware (BA) and the Conwell School of Theology at Temple University in Philadelphia. He joined the Florida Conference of the Methodist Church in 1952 and served as pastor at Oneco, West Palm Beace, Wauchula, Lakeland, and Coral Gables in Miami. In 1967, he was asked to be the director and speaker in a weekly telecast in Miami sponsored by the Council of Churches; a ministry he maintained for five years. In 1970 he and Dr. Herb Bowdin launched a radio ministry called "Methodist Hour" which was heard on over 100 radio stations across America and around the world on short-wave. Rev. Dough was appointed a General Evangelist for the Florida Conference in 1972 and moved to Orlando, FL. He served as President of the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists, and in 1965 was given the Philip Award for distinguished service in evangelism. Rev. Dough has led inspirational tour groups around the world and for 10 years specialized in Hymn-Heritage tours across Great Britian. Officially retiring in 1986, Rev. Dough continued to be very active in preaching, tour leading, writing, singing, and playing the trombone. He continued to write hymns and had A publication in a calendar sized booklet entitled, "New Hymns for Bible Truths with Familiar Tunes." It featured eleven of Rev. Dough's hymns and pithy sayings of Dr. E. Stanley Jones and it still bears a powerful evangelism message for the Church. In February 14, 1947 he was married to Kathleen Heath Dough of Harmony, N.C. and she died January 27, 2000. He was also preceded in death by two sons, Ronald Dough and Gregory Dough. Rev. Dough is survived by two sister-in-laws, Marie Ellis Heath of Harmony, N.C. and Patsy Heath Vestal, of Yadkinville, N.C. Several nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Rev. Dough will be conducted 11:00 AM Saturday, February 19, 2011 at Clarksbury United Methodist Church near Harmony N.C. where he had been attending church in recent years. Rev. John and Judy Wolfe and Rev. Allen Ingram will officiate and burial will follow on a later date. Memorials may be made to Methodist Hour International, 2555 Arbor Hill Road, Canton, Ga. 30115, Clarksbury United Methodist Church, 924 E. Memorial Hwy, Harmony, N.C. 28634, or to Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, N.C. 28625. Online condolences may be made at www.nicholsonfunerals.com/obituaries. Nicholson Funeral Home of Statesville, N.C. is serving the family of Rev. Whitney James Dough.