Story by Brad Schmitt, News Channel 2, www.MusicCityTV.com; Used with permission.

Gospel great Dottie Rambo, 74, died in a bus crash near Springfield, Mo., early Sunday morning, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report.

The bus driver, Ronnie Meadows, is in serious condition and Ms. Rambo’s manager, Larry Ferguson, and his wife and his two children, are also hospitalized in Springfield, Mo., the report says.

Chris Barnes, 22, Ms. Rambo’s Web master and Mr. Ferguson’s assistant, was in serious condition.

Few details were available, but there were reports that overnight storms and high winds caused the 1997 Prevost bus to crash into a guard rail and an embankment around 2:20 a.m. on I-44, two miles east of Mt. Vernon, Mo.

Ms. Rambo was reportedly traveling from Springfield, Mo., to Texas when the crash occured. Ms. Rambo was a prolific writer and singer whose hits include We Shall Behold Him, Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome (In The Place), I Go To The Rock, and Sheltered In The Arms Of God.

Elvis Presley, Barbara Mandrell, Carol Channing, Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton are among those who have recorded Ms. Rambo’s songs.

As a young girl, Ms. Rambo fell in love with country music while listening to the Grand Ole Opry in her Morganfield, Ky., home. She started writing songs at ate 8, and by age 10, Ms. Rambo was singing covers of country songs on a local radio station.

By age 12, she became a born-again Christian, a decision her dad abhorred. He ended up kicking her out of the house, and Ms. Rambo started her Christian career.

Ms. Rambo met Buck Rambo at age 16 and they married soon after, forming a gospel trio that would launch a 50+ years career in Christian music.

Barbara Mandrell inducted Ms. Rambo into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame late last year, only the 10th woman to enter the hall.

Ms. Rambo was slated to release a new album, Sheltered, in the summer. The album was to include a duet with the late Porter Wagoner, Sheltered in the Arms of God, and Dottie was set to dedicate her album to Mr. Wagoner.

May 15, 2008
From the desk of Beckie Simmons:

Good News! In a telephone conversation today with Judy Ferguson, the wife of Larry Ferguson, manager of Dottie Rambo, there is encouraging news!

First of all, they want to convey their thanks to everyone for their prayers. Larry came thru surgery fine and must be on complete bed rest for the next few days. Judy and their two children have been released from the hospital; however, they are still there spending their days and nights with Larry, as well as with Chris Barnes, Product Manager/Webmaster and bus driver, Ronnie Meadows.

Chris Barnes is improving and has just started blinking his eyes. Surgery will follow as soon as he is physically able. Ronnie Meadows is beginning to respond and is writing notes to communicate. Larry will require an additional surgery within the next few weeks. Your continued prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

The families of those hospitalized are staying in nearby hotels. The extra expense of travel, hotels, eating out, hospital expense, etc. is mounting; so, along with your prayers, contributions of any size would be greatly appreciated. Friends have established a fund in the name of Larry Ferguson at the Citizens National Bank in Springfield, Missouri to help with these immediate expenses, as well as those who are injured. Cards, letters and support can be sent to the following:

Citizens National Bank
ATTN: Marsha Henry
LARRY FERGUSON FUND
3212 South Glenstone Avenue
Springfield, MO 65804

GospelMusicUpdate.com has posted a tribute to Dottie Rambo from Moody Radio.  Visit www.GospelMusicUpdate.com to listen

The funeral for Ms. Dottie Rambo will be at 1 PM on Monday, May 19th. Complete details will be forthcoming.

Monday, May 19, 1:00 PM – MEMORIAL SERVICE 
Dottie Rambo home-going celebration service:
Christ Church
15354 Old Hickory Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37211

Saturday, May 17, 4-8 PM – VISITATION
Sunday, May 18 from 2-4 PM - VISITATION
Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home
660 Thompson Lane
Nashville, TN 37204

Visitations and memorial service: open to the public.
There will be a private reception for close friends and relatives at the church on Monday, May 19 from 11 AM – 12:30 PM.

Private entombment: mausoleum at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Memorial Park will be for family only immediately following her Home-going Celebration.

This web site, DottieRamboMusic.com, is authorized by Rambo Evangelistic Association. DottieRambo.net has exceeded bandwidth and is experiencing sporadic outages. Because of injuries sustained in the bus accident, neither Larry Ferguson (manager) or Chris Barnes (webmaster) are able to oversee operation of the official web site.

We invite you, Dottie’s friends, to leave messages for her loved ones and share your stories of how Dottie’s songs, ministry and life touched you.

This web site is maintained by Aaron Crisler / The Judy Nelon Group.