Doris Jean Rodolph

1913 - 2016

ODESSA - Doris Jean Rodolph, 103, beloved sister, daughter and aunt went to be with her Lord on November 11, 2016. She was born August 30, 1913 on a farm outside Temple, Oklahoma to Albert Eugene and Lottie Ethel Miller Rodolph.

Doris was a musician of exceptional talent. She showed exceptional signs of talent at an early age. Her music career began at the age of six and spanned 97 years of giving back her talents to all who knew her. She was a graduate of Oklahoma College for Women with a Bachelors degree in Music. She would go on to achieve a Degree of Masters of Music from the University of Oklahoma. Her commitment and dedication to her art were unparalleled in those years. This commitment to her craft would be greatly respected by her professors and later her students. One professor noted "It is better to have her than to be her".

After graduation, Doris taught piano and music in the public schools. She first taught in Walters and later Perry, Oklahoma. After ten years of teaching in the Perry schools, she opened her own studio and began private lessons for piano and organ. Many of her students would go on to perform for Presidents and Royalty across the world.

Doris was an active member of the Rotary club in Perry. She played the organ, directed the choir and served her church, First United Methodist Church, in Perry, faithfully for 55 years before retiring and moving to Odessa to live with her sister Robbie. Doris' greatest treasure was the work she did with her private students. She took great joy in passing on to them her knowledge and appreciation for great music, as well as the ability to produce it.

Her final years were spent out of the limelight living in Parks Retirement Village with her sister where she would happily sit down at the piano to play church hymns, Christmas music and Happy Birthday for every resident until she was over 100 years old. One joyous story is the time the local church choir came to carol to the elderly and shut-ins at the village. They came to her house to sing. She invited them in and had them gather around her piano while she played and they sang. All who participated were amazed at this woman accompanying them at 98 years of age.

Her last gift of music was given as a gift of her piano when her hands would no longer play to a child who was just beginning to learn to play that had only a small keyboard on which to learn. Once again she was giving her music and fulfilling the dreams of others. She was always the consummate professional and musician. Heaven is a brighter place with her presence.

She is the last of her generation of the family. She is survived by nieces and nephews, piano students and friends. She has left a legacy of love and music and will be missed.

The family asks that memorials be given in lieu of flowers to First United Methodist Church, 727 Elm Street, Perry, OK 73077 or First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Lee, Odessa, TX 79761 to their organ funds to maintain the beauty of these fabulous instruments.

Visitation will be held Monday, November 14 from 4:00 to 6:00 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Graveside services will be Tuesday, November 15 at 10:00 am and a memorial service will be held at 2:00 on November 15 at Parks Retirement Village in the Assisted Living dining room.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home. To sign our guestbook, visit www.sunsetodessa.com.