The Rev. Whitney Dough, Methodist minister
The Rev. Whitney James Dough, 90, of Harmony, N.C., passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at the Gordon Hospice House, Statesville, N.C. He was born in Philadelphia Nov. 2, 1920, son of the late Whitney and Ethel Myrtle (Palmer) Dough.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Kathleen (Heath) Dough who died Jan. 27, 2000; and two sons, Ronald and Gregory Dough.
He was raised in Delaware and served in the U.S. Army during World War II, playing in the Army Band. He later graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor of arts degree and then attended Conwell School of Theology at Temple University of Philadelphia. He joined the Florida Conference of the Methodist Church in 1952 and served as pastor at Oneco, West Palm Beach, Wauchula, Lakeland, Coral Gables and 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 shortwave. The Rev. Dough was appointed a general evangelist for the Florida Conference in 1972 and moved to Orlando, Fla. 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.
The Rev. Dough has led inspirational tour groups around the world and for 10 years specialized in hymn-heritage tours across Great Britain. Officially retiring in 1986, the Rev. Dough continued to be very active in preaching, tour leading, singing, writing and playing the trombone. He continued to write hymns and had a publication in a calendar-sized booklet titled "New Hymns for Bible Truths with Familiar Tunes." It featured 11 of the Rev. Dough's hymns and pithy sayings of Dr. E. Stanley Jones and still bears a powerful evangelism message for the church.
The Rev. Dough is survived by two sisters-in-law, Marie Ellis Heath of Harmony, N.C. and Patsy Heath Vestal of Yadkinville, N.C; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 12, at Bethel Methodist Cemetery, Savannah Road, Lewes. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Lewes.
