Mr. Will D Dove, age 85, died April 28, 2012, at Community Hospice/Darlington Oaks in Verona, MS. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Gunter and Peel Funeral Home with Rev. Terry Edwards officiating and Rev. Don Harding assisting. Interment to follow at Egger Cemetery, Caledonia, MS. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 2, 2012, from 10:00 AM until time of service. Mr. Dove was born in Monroe County, MS to the late Eckford C. and Elsie Stanford Dove. He was a professional boxer having fought in Madison Square Gardens in New York City under the name of "Billie Dove" in 1948. He attended Caledonia School and at the age of 15 his parents signed for him to join the Navy. He served in the U. S. Navy during WWII. Mr. Dove retired from United Technology with 34 years of service. He was a member of the VFW and American Legion. Mr. Dove was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Pamela Dove Moss; granddaughter, Bernice Fenely Moss; brothers, D.C. Dove, J.D. Dove and Archie Dove; and sisters, Lovetta Morton and Donnie Shumpert. Mr. Dove is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joanne Potter Dove of Caledonia, MS; sons, Riggie Dove of Columbus, MS and Jeffery Clay Dove of Dallas, TX; daughter, Scarlet Ann Dove of Columbus, MS; brother, Herman Dove of Caledonia, MS; sisters, Jewell Tiffin of West Point, MS, Elanor Wright of Columbus, MS, Luna Mae Kilburn of Simpsonville, SC and Violet Motes of Hampton, VA; grandchildren, Ron Moss, Sam Moss, Gena Dehnar, Allen Dove, Michelle Lawton and Melissa Herrera; 8 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Ron Moss, Sam Moss, Allen Dove, Matt Moss, Al Lawton and Chad Dehnar. Honorary pallbearers will be Spurgeon Moss, Sr., David Lawton, Jimmy Dolan, Jerry and Pam Marshall, Hoot West, Nick and Tammy Simon, Charlie Culpepper, Earnie Barton, Pat Wiggins, Don Meyers, Ben Kilgore, and Lisa and Mike Shizak.

Published in Commercial Dispatch from April 30 to May 2, 2012 .