Dorothy Meese

Throughout her life, it seems Dorothy Meese lived by the familiar words of Helen Steiner Rice Â? who wrote that we should not count our age by the years that we have lived, but rather by the friendships made and by your kindness shown to others. Regardless of the measurement, Dorothy’s long life yielded countless friendships and good deeds. Born at Dover on November 11, 1914, Dorothy was an only child Â? reared by her parents in their Johnson Avenue home. At the age of 8, she boarded a streetcar at Dover to travel to her weekly violin lessons. Over the next decade, she became an accomplished violinist. Upon graduation from Dover High in 1932, Dorothy was invited to study at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Instead, the Great Depression required Dorothy to place her musical ambitions on hold and follow another interest; hairdressing. Dorothy was known to frequent the beauty shop of the late Bernice Miller during her formative years. At the age of 18, Dorothy joined Art Able’s Beauty Salon where she learned to cut and style hair. Dorothy’s warm and friendly personality lead to her popularity and success as a beautician.While practicing her music lesson, the former Dorothy Rippel came to know Robert Meese, who was one year her junior. Mr. Meese also played the violin, and said many times that the two met while “just fiddling around.” Regardless of the details of their first encounter, the couple made marvelous music together and were married at St. Johns E&R Church on September 2, 1934.Within a few years, Dorothy had opened her own beauty salon from her home, charging 25 cents for a men’s haircut and 75 cents for a ladies shampoo and style. In just two years, her shop grew, and the couple built a home on the corner of Prospect and Liberty street where she would work from home for more than fifty years. Dorothy was committed to customer service, often opening her salon before dawn to serve ladies before their workday, and remaining open a late as 11PM to accommodate busy working mothers. When she wasn’t beautifying her customers, Dorothy Â? better known as Dodie to her friends – would spend Monday evenings with her husband and others in what would ultimately become the Tucarawas Philharmonic Â? practicing Â? where the Meese’s were first chair violinists for many years. Active in many clubs and organizations, Dorothy was a charter member of the Junior Literary Club, the Tourist Club, and The Tuscarawas Order of the Eastern Starr where she was a Past Worthy Matron. Dodie was a longtime member of the Union Country Club, where she belonged to the Women’s Golf Association, and golfed into her ninetieth year. When the weather was cold, she joined other ladies in Women’s Winter Golf, a bowling league at Boulevard Lanes. For more that thirty years, Dorothy delivered and participated in Mobile Meals at Dover and New Philadelphia. Dorothy was baptized, confirmed, and married in St. John’s United Church of Christ, where, as a lifetime member, she taught Sunday School and was a member of the former Martha Circle of the Church. Dodie also performed regularly for many years with the Singing Violins String Trio.Dorothy enjoyed traveling, both to broaden her horizons, and to visit family and friends. She dearly loved her family Â? especially her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and always took time to encourage them in their activities. Dorothy and Bob reared two children; Robert Meese Jr. (wife Brenna) of Del Norte, Colorado, and Jane (husband Bob) Klopfer of Dover. Six grandchildren, including, the late Steve Meese (his fiancé was Ellen Pretorious, of Dover) Jim (wife Betsy) Meese of Hancock, Michigan, and Barb (husband Drew) Yosick of New Philadelphia, Kari (husband Erich) Bichsel of New Philadelphia, Kyle (wife Jennifer) Klopfer of Mill Valley, California, and Kelly (husband Jeremy) Rager of Dover, all of whom will miss their grandmother’s gift of friendship, cookie baking, and faith. Eleven great-grandchildren, Zach and twins Erin and Emily Meese of Strasburg, Elliott and Anna Meese of Hancock, Michigan, Alex, Nick and Tony Yosick and Jack Bichsel of New Philadelphia, and Curtis and Luke Klopfer of Mill Valley, California. In the final year of her life, Dorothy traveled with her family and friends, gave her great-grandson his first haircut, and played bridge and gin with her friends. Throughout her life, Dorothy endured the sorrow of losing her parents in a tragic car accident while she was a young lady, and the sadness of losing her husband before his time. Her quiet faith and belief in the power of prayer sustained her in times of sadness, and eased her transition from her life here to her heavenly reward on Sunday afternoon at the age of 92. Nearly fifty years ago, the Dover Daily Reporter published a feature story on Mrs. Meese, concluding “Dodie’s friends are many, her disposition is amicable, her personality is personified, and her smile is sincere.”- A perfect benediction to a life well lived.Dorothy will be memorialized Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 11 AM in St. John’s United Church of Christ with the Rev. Michael W. Lowery and Pastor Dwight Mason co-officiating. Immediately following the ceremony, Dodie’s family will receive friends and host a luncheon in her memory in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover. A private interment ceremony will also take place Saturday in Maple Grove Cemetery at Dover.Dorothy’s family has established a scholarship in her memory through the music department at Dover High School with the desire for talented young musicians to continue their study of music. Contributions may be made in care of the Dover Schools Educational Foundation at Investment Partners, to the Dorothy Meese Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 309, New Philadelphia OH 44663, or to the St. John’s United Church of Christ, 409 N. Wooster Avenue Dover, OH 44622. Arrangements are through the care and direction of the Geib Funeral Center at Dover.