Underwood

A memorial service for Dose Underwood, 97, of Lexington is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 3 at 11 a.m.

at First Christian Church in Lexington. Her grandson-in-law, Rev. Rusty Wright, and Rev. Margaret Imhoff will preside.

Ascenia Lorena “Dose” (Peebles) Underwood was born at home in Lexington’s Old Town neighborhood on Nov. 28, 1922, to parents Sam Parker and Mary Ann (Johnston) Peebles.

Dose graduated from Lexington High School in 1939 at age

16. She then attended Baylor University, graduating in 1943 with a degree in speech.

In June 1943, Dose married Fred Waltmar Woodward of Lexington. The couple had two children, Kay Ellen and Fred Peebles Woodward. After the death of her husband Fred in 1949, Dose and the children continued to live with his parents, Homer and Dora Woodward, at their home near Lexington.

Dose taught second grade and coached high school speaking events. Alongside several Lexington teachers, she earned a master’s degree in education from Prairie View A&M University.

In August 1952, Dose married Thomas Roger Underwood Jr., who was working as the principal of Lexington High School. The couple was blessed with a son, Thomas Roger Underwood III.

The family moved to Rock-dale, where Dose worked first in the high school, and Thomas served as high school principal. Dose coached speech and debate, and she served director of the One-Act Play. Later, she worked as a second-grade teacher before her retirement from Rockdale ISD in 1987.

Dose enjoyed nature walks, rambling drives on country roads, and fishing with a cane pole in Brushy Creek. She had a tendency to fall in the mud, into the creek, and—at least one time—into the Guadalupe River. She always came up laughing.

She had strong compassion for underprivileged people and anyone working on their behalf. She spent much of her retirement working at a Christian thrift store and delivering Meals on Wheels in Rockdale.

Despite the tragedies in her life, including the sudden deaths of her first husband and eldest son, Dose held an inspiringly positive outlook on life. She encouraged her family and friends to “celebrate in all things, because God is with you and happiness is a choice.”

Dose died on Dec. 24, 2019, at Copperas Hollow Assisted Living in Caldwell, her home for five years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Mary Ann Peebles; husbands Fred W. Woodward and Thomas R. Underwood Jr.; son Fred P. Woodward; daughter-in-law Julie (Wiggins) Underwood; son-in-law Paul Van Dorn Sr.; daughter-in-law Evelyn (Pearson) Woodward; brothers Sam Peebles Jr., E. M. Peebles and Wyley Marshall Peebles; sister-in-law Bootsie (Camp) Peebles; and nephew Parker Peebles.

Dose is survived by her daughter, Kay Van Dorn; son Thomas R. Underwood III; daughter-in-law Jan (Pirkey) Woodward; sister Rosa Gene (Peebles) Lewis; grandchildren Paul Van Dorn, Jr. and wife Karen, Amy (Van Dorn) Wright and husband Rusty, Andrew Woodward and wife Tina, Erin (Woodward) Truho and husband Scott, Jonathan Underwood and wife Carly, and Daniel Underwood; nieces Pattie Peebles Ivey and Jimanne Lewis Kubiak; and nephew Ray Lewis.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Amanda Van Dorn; Margaret, Louise, and Charlotte Woodward; Madeline and Julia Wright; Wyatt, Grant, and Benjamin Truho; and Charlie and Teddy Underwood.

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 8870 N. Hwy. 77, Lexington, TX 78947, or the charity of one’s choice.

Services under the direction of Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home, P.O. Drawer 1417, Rock-dale, TX 76567, 512-446-5454.