Georgia Earnestine Dove

Georgia Earnestine Dove, of Woodbine, died peacefully at the age of 99 on September 26, 2025. Throughout her whole life, she was known for her beautiful smile. She was a truly gentle person with a welcoming, kind and generous spirit for family, friends and anyone she met. One of ten children, she was born on a farm in western Howard County to Millard and Ethel Mullinix and attended Annapolis Rock School and then Lisbon School. After leaving school she worked as a nurse at The Gundry Sanitarium in Baltimore, until she married her beloved husband Wilber A. Dove, who predeceased her in 2001.

After they were married on April 22, 1946, they operated a dairy farm with Holstein cows in western Howard County and lovingly raised 5 children. An amazing gardener, Georgia canned and preserved foods to last through the winter from their large vegetable gardens. They also grew fruit trees, berries, grapes, and even bananas, pineapples, and coffee beans by adding a greenhouse to the end of the house after the children were grown. Her gorgeous flower arrangements from home-grown flowers were loved by all who saw or received them. At various times the farm was home to chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pheasants, horses, ponies, pigs, sheep, goats, cats, dogs, and even a peacock. It was an amazing place to grow up, plenty of work but lots of time for swimming or fishing in the ponds and playing in the streams.

Georgia is survived by her children Georgia W. Ziehm and Wilber E. Dove, Sr. of Woodbine, E. Marie Puchta of Glendale, AZ, and Richard C. Dove (Linda) of Clemson, SC, her daughter-in-law Ina M. Dove of Mt. Airy, and her brother Eugene Mullinix of Mt. Airy. She was predeceased by her son Harry R. Dove and sons-in-law Robert W. Ziehm and Joseph Puchta and eight of her siblings.

She was the beloved grandmother of Michelle Mackay, Amanda (Paul) Sachtleben, Wilber E. Dove, Jr., Jill (John) Porter, Laura (Erik) Anderson, Jefferson (Christina) Dove, Angela (Kenny) Stull, Elizabeth Medvec, Ronald Dove, John (Courtney) Dove, and Charles Dove and step-grandmother of Michele Ojason and Melinda (James) Ittenbach. They all looked forward to family time and activities with their grandparents. She was proud of and delighted in her 15 great grandchildren and great-great grandson, who all loved sharing adventures with her.

She was an amazing cook and generous host, and their farm was a welcoming gathering place for family, friends, and neighbors. Over the years, delicious foods and fun times were enjoyed by all who spent time there.

Georgia was a devoted, active member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Mt Airy since 1945, raised her family there, and made everyone feel welcome. Her favorite saying in recent years was “One day at a time, sweet Jesus” and she shared it with everyone she met. She loved life up until the end and remained thankful for her many blessings, even as she blessed those around her.

The Family will receive friends on Wednesday October 1, 2025, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM at the Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., 1212 W. Old Liberty Rd, Sykesville, MD 21784. The funeral and celebration of life service will be held on October 2, 2025, at Calvary Lutheran Church with a Visitation from 10 AM to 11 AM at which time the service will begin at Calvary Lutheran Church, 16151 Old Frederick Rd, Mount Airy, MD 21771. Interment will follow at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Marriottsville, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church. Online condolences to www.burrier-queen.com.