Florence A. “Floss” Dove died at her home in Vineyard Haven on December 22 at the age of 96. She was born in Washington, D.C., on November 24, 1915, the daughter of Lois Strickler and Clyde Blaine Asher. She married Gardner Dove when she was 20 and was introduced to Martha’s Vineyard soon after. They raised their family in Washington. In 1969 she and Gardner moved to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands where they lived for seven years.
In 1976 Floss and Gardner moved permanently to Vineyard Haven, following in the footsteps of Gardner’s mother and grandmother. Floss was an active volunteer at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for many years, helped with Camp Jabberwocky during her early years on the island, and supported many community activities. She was an avid golfer most of her life, loved the outdoors, and took many long walks all over the island. Needlepoint projects, card, and board games always kept her interest. She was a member of the Garden Club and attended the First Congregational Church in West Tisbury. She and Gardner were members of the Chevy Chase Club in Maryland and of the Edgartown Golf Club on the island.
Floss was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Gardner Dove, in 2005. She is survived by two daughters, Helen Howze (John) of Alexandria, Va., and Judy Corbett (Geoff) of Chevy Chase, Md.,, six granddaughters, Margaret Howze (Nick Spitzer), Elizabeth Howze, Kathryn Harcourt (Gary), Kristin O’Donnell (John), Kelley Lewellin (Mike), and Karoline Smith (Dan), her brother Norman Asher (Ann) of Bethesda, Md., and ten great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her older sister and brother.
There will be a memorial service at the First Congregational Church in West Tisbury on Saturday January 21, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Island Hospice, P.O. Box 4188, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, Vineyard Nursing Association, P.O. Box 399, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, or a charity of your choice.
