tennessean.com
May 11, 2008
Gospel singer Joyce "Dottie" Rambo dies
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. (AP) -- Gospel singer-songwriter Joyce "Dottie" Rambo died early Sunday when the bus she was in ran off a road in southwest Missouri and struck an embankment.
Rambo, 74, of Nashville, died in the crash about two miles east of Mount Vernon on Interstate 44, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. Seven other people in the bus were injured, and were hospitalized in Springfield with moderate to severe injuries, the patrol said.
It was unclear if the accident, which occurred about 2 a.m., was weather-related, the patrol said. Severe storms and tornadoes hit the region about 6 p.m. Saturday, killing 14 people. Sustained winds and storms swept through the area later in the night, according to the National Weather Service.
"She was a giant in the gospel music industry," said Beckie Simmons, Rambo's agent. "Dolly Parton recorded some of her songs."
She was on her way to a Mother's Day performance in Texas, according to her Web site.
Rambo was inducted to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Rambo has had more than 2,500 published songs, including gospel classics such as "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need" and the 1982 Gospel Music Association Song of the Year, "We Shall Behold Him."
The Coach was a 1997 Prevost per Missouri Highway Patrol report.
Sad to see any thing like this happen.
jlv
So sad and tragic a manner of passing. Gospel music and the world has lost an inspiration and a truly wonderful Christian. Dottie, sing God a song and make Him happy again.
BCT
Dottie will truly be missed by the Gospel community. She was a great Godly woman!
Here are 2 links to news reports & video of the crash scene. Reports indicate extremely high winds in that area at the time of the wreck...may have actually blown the bus off course and into the median??
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/18850914.html (http://www.ky3.com/news/local/18850914.html)
http://ozarksfirst.com/media_player.php?media_id=36344 (http://ozarksfirst.com/media_player.php?media_id=36344)
Update on the passengers:
Dottie Rambo - died instantly, as her neck was broken when she was thrown from her bunk.
Ronnie Meadows(bus driver) - Ejected & broke the steering wheel...in critical condition & on ventilator.
Chris Barnes(product manager) - remains hospitalized with numerous injuries...awake and talking.
Larry Ferguson(Dottie's manager) - has 2 broken legs, broken jaw & in lots of pain...awake and talking.
Judy Ferguson(wife of Larry) - was treated and released.
Christian Ferguson(8 year old son of Larry) - remain in the hospital with numerous cuts and bruises.
Pierce Ferguson(3 year old son of Larry) - remain in the hospital with numerous cuts and bruises.
Please pray for all the families!
God bless,
Darrin