Obituary for Edward Franklin Dozier
Ed Dozier, 87,passed away November 11, 2022. He was born in Norfolk to the late Edward F. and Frances Dozier, Sr. He was predeceased by the love of his life, Delcy Reid Dozier, to whom he was married for 56 years, until the time of her passing 4 years ago. He grew up in Portlock and graduated from the last class at South Norfolk High School. Ed was a veteran of the United States Air Force, where among other things, he watched and listened for enemy activities from remote locations such as Newfoundland and Labrador, was flown all around our country with an elite group of Airmen to other bases to play softball, and learned how to play a mean game of poker. After four years of service, Ed entered the The College of William and Mary, Norfolk Division, which later became ODU. He earned a degree in economics in 1962.
He worked for over 30 years at the Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Norfolk, where he became the Chief Economist in the Planning Division. Here he forged many strong friendships with the wonderful men and women that he worked with, and he learned how to look busy when the General was around. He brought lessons home from his work that he would teach his kids like… if I have a clip board, a badge and a vest, I can get ANYWHERE I want to go…..or, if you cut a rubber eraser into a cube, then use a pen to make dots on each of the six sides, your boss will never know that you are rolling dice with your coworkers. While these stories are true, and they reflect on the fun that was within the man, they do not define who he was.
He was committed and steadfast, loyal and exacting, mild mannered and patient. He was an amazingly devoted husband, an incredible father, and somehow an even better “Papaw” to his grandchildren. He left the job he loved at the Corps when his first grandchild was born. He was always present for any and every event that took place anywhere close to him involving his grandchildren. Though, in this new job he “worked” for free, he would tell us often that it was the best raise and promotion he ever had.
Ed served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in quiet and humble ways. He served in his church, Rosemont Christian Church, for over 50 years, faithfully, as treasurer and deacon for most of his decades there. He let his quiet demeanor and his service do most of the “speaking” for his faith. He had SO MANY wonderful friendships there through the years, and always enjoyed his Sunday school class, his service with other deacons, the hanging of the greens, and his Wednesday morning prayer breakfast crew at Pancakes N Things.
Ed is survived by his two children, Edward F. Dozier, III and his wife Emily, and Shelley D. Morrison and her husband Sonny. They fondly remember family trips and the weeks of planning, with maps spread out, that went into them, time spent at the beach house, and yearly trips into the Smoky Mountains. From his children he was blessed with six grandchildren, Kiera(Jarad), Zach(Megan), Sam, Maddi, Alyssa and Kaci, each of whom always knew who their #1 fan was, and each to whom he tried to impart some poker playing skills...hard lessons over pennies and nickels lost to their Papaw. He was a lifelong fan of ODU basketball, taking his children and grandchildren to see the Monarchs play when they were available. Ed was also always supported and loved by his amazing sister, Frances (Ellen) Waller and through her, his wonderful nephews and their families. Ed was all about family, and he surely was blessed to be surrounded by a group who loved and cared for him. Of course, we realize the flow chart worked in the opposite direction….as his example before us and his love for us all went into building that love that came back to him. We were richly blessed to have such a man in our lives for so many years.
The family would like to thank Dr. Ron Atwood, MD who always took such good and loving care of Ed. His family and ours share a bond that stretches back many, many years prior to Dr. Atwood being his physician. We were so thankful to have the love, care and expertise of the entire family benefit all of us for decades. Thank you. Please know that our family loves each of you!
A funeral service is planned for Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at Rosemont Christian Church, 3505 Bainbridge Blvd, Chesapeake, VA. The service will be at 11am. The family will receive friends at the church at 10am. Burial in Chesapeake Memorial Gardens will follow. We love flowers, so if you care to send flowers, please do so, with a little card included recounting a special memory you shared with Ed. If you prefer to make a financial donation, please do so to the church, in honor of our dearly loved and missed Ed. Graham Funeral Home, in Chesapeake, is handling the arrangements. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence to the family.
He worked for over 30 years at the Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Norfolk, where he became the Chief Economist in the Planning Division. Here he forged many strong friendships with the wonderful men and women that he worked with, and he learned how to look busy when the General was around. He brought lessons home from his work that he would teach his kids like… if I have a clip board, a badge and a vest, I can get ANYWHERE I want to go…..or, if you cut a rubber eraser into a cube, then use a pen to make dots on each of the six sides, your boss will never know that you are rolling dice with your coworkers. While these stories are true, and they reflect on the fun that was within the man, they do not define who he was.
He was committed and steadfast, loyal and exacting, mild mannered and patient. He was an amazingly devoted husband, an incredible father, and somehow an even better “Papaw” to his grandchildren. He left the job he loved at the Corps when his first grandchild was born. He was always present for any and every event that took place anywhere close to him involving his grandchildren. Though, in this new job he “worked” for free, he would tell us often that it was the best raise and promotion he ever had.
Ed served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in quiet and humble ways. He served in his church, Rosemont Christian Church, for over 50 years, faithfully, as treasurer and deacon for most of his decades there. He let his quiet demeanor and his service do most of the “speaking” for his faith. He had SO MANY wonderful friendships there through the years, and always enjoyed his Sunday school class, his service with other deacons, the hanging of the greens, and his Wednesday morning prayer breakfast crew at Pancakes N Things.
Ed is survived by his two children, Edward F. Dozier, III and his wife Emily, and Shelley D. Morrison and her husband Sonny. They fondly remember family trips and the weeks of planning, with maps spread out, that went into them, time spent at the beach house, and yearly trips into the Smoky Mountains. From his children he was blessed with six grandchildren, Kiera(Jarad), Zach(Megan), Sam, Maddi, Alyssa and Kaci, each of whom always knew who their #1 fan was, and each to whom he tried to impart some poker playing skills...hard lessons over pennies and nickels lost to their Papaw. He was a lifelong fan of ODU basketball, taking his children and grandchildren to see the Monarchs play when they were available. Ed was also always supported and loved by his amazing sister, Frances (Ellen) Waller and through her, his wonderful nephews and their families. Ed was all about family, and he surely was blessed to be surrounded by a group who loved and cared for him. Of course, we realize the flow chart worked in the opposite direction….as his example before us and his love for us all went into building that love that came back to him. We were richly blessed to have such a man in our lives for so many years.
The family would like to thank Dr. Ron Atwood, MD who always took such good and loving care of Ed. His family and ours share a bond that stretches back many, many years prior to Dr. Atwood being his physician. We were so thankful to have the love, care and expertise of the entire family benefit all of us for decades. Thank you. Please know that our family loves each of you!
A funeral service is planned for Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at Rosemont Christian Church, 3505 Bainbridge Blvd, Chesapeake, VA. The service will be at 11am. The family will receive friends at the church at 10am. Burial in Chesapeake Memorial Gardens will follow. We love flowers, so if you care to send flowers, please do so, with a little card included recounting a special memory you shared with Ed. If you prefer to make a financial donation, please do so to the church, in honor of our dearly loved and missed Ed. Graham Funeral Home, in Chesapeake, is handling the arrangements. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence to the family.