Dorothy “Dot” May Strader Moore went peacefully to the Lord on Nov. 27, 2023. Dot was born in Drift, Ky. on June 6, 1928, and grew up in Radford. She graduated Radford High School and earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Physical Education and a minor in English and Social Studies from Radford University. She participated in many extracurricular activities while at Radford University, including Alpha Sigma Alpha, Choral Club, German Club, YWCA, and she taught others to play tennis. Some years later, while teaching full time, she earned her master’s degree in education from Virginia Tech.
Dot’s teaching career spanned 40 years, beginning at Shawsville High School, where she taught physical education and coached girls’ basketball and volleyball. She then moved to Brentsville Middle and High schools where she devoted 35 years to teaching physical education, health, and driver’s education. She also coached numerous girls’ sports teams, including basketball, softball, track, volleyball, gymnastics, and tennis. Dot was a dedicated teacher and coach who instilled in her students not only the importance of physical activity, but also the ideals and standards that would help them lead healthy and successful lives. She led by example, staying active and playing tennis with the Sudley Tennis Club well into her 60’s, likely contributing to her longevity.
When Dot wasn’t playing tennis, she would enjoy swimming, gardening, needlepoint, knitting latch-look, and sewing. She was an avid fan of Virginia Tech football and the Washington Commanders.
Dot felt at home in both Radford and Manassas. She and her deceased sister Virginia, “Ditty”, would regularly travel to and from Radford, making friends at every restaurant, motel, and gas station along the way. Dot especially enjoyed attending Radford class reunions and the Radford University Highlanders Festival.
Dot comes from a long line of teachers, including her deceased Aunt Lucille, who helped raise her and Ditty. After 40 years of teaching, Dot said she would do it all over again. Her love of education and dedication to students is exemplified by her decision in 2006 to establish the Virginia Strader Nunn Memorial Scholarship in Education at Radford University. The scholarship honors the legacy of her sister and helps those pursuing a degree in education to fulfill their dreams. It was one of Dot’s great joys to meet the scholarship recipients each year. Dot has also arranged for the creation of the Dorothy Strader Moore Memorial Scholarship in Physical Education at Radford University.
Dot was a woman of great faith and was a living example of Christ’s presence on Earth. She was always giving, always forgiving, never expecting anything in return. Dot was a member of Grace United Methodist Church for 68 years, and she enjoyed participating in many of the church ministries over the years, the most recent being “Caring and Sharing.”
Dot prioritized service to the community. She was an active member for 58 years of the Alpha Mu Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization for Leading Women Educators.
In 2020, Dot was recognized with the “Honor Our Own” award for years of service to Alpha Mu at the local and state levels.
Dot volunteered at Prince William Medical Center (PWMC) for 24 years, greeting generations of visitors at the Front Desk of Guest Services. She earned a Lifetime Associate Membership of the UVA Health System PWMC Auxiliary in 2017 in recognition of her 4,488 hours of service.
Similarly, Dot enjoyed giving her free time and energy volunteering with the Manassas 501 Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary for a countless number of years. In 2017, she earned the “Mattie Parrish Auxiliary Life Member” award. She also contributed her time and talents to Volunteer Prince William’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, doing whatever was needed.
Dot greatly enjoyed and supported the arts, history, and culture of Manassas. She was a Friend of the Hylton Performing Arts Center and loved going to many of the performances there. Dot was also a Friend of the Manassas Museum Associates. She also enjoyed attending the Manassas Chorale concerts and all the events at the Harris Pavilion.
Dot spent the last eight years of her life at Caton Merchant House, presently Commonwealth Senior Living at Manassas, where she reconnected with dear friends and loved making new ones too. Dot was especially thankful for the extraordinary care she received from all the nurses and staff there, including Ayo, Brenda, Nadia, Joyce, Theresa, Tina, GG, Mary, Gifty, and Joy, among others. Dot was also grateful for her personal loving caregivers, Georgina and Ben, and so appreciated Shelley, her special hospice nurse, for her tender palliative care over the past six months.
Dot’s 25-year marriage to her former husband, Buddy, brought her many blessings, especially her cherished family bonds with the extended Moore family.
Dot was preceded in death by her parents, Charles William and Ethel Strader; stepmother, Gladys Smith Strader; mother-in-law, Eula Moore; brothers, Claudius and Joe Hutchison; her infant sister, Mary Malinda Strader; sisters, Virginia Strader Nunn (Ralph), Margaret Strader Bradford; aunts, Lucille and Mary Strader, Nancy Shannon; uncles, Albert and Cecil Shannon; former husband, Ralph “Buddy” Moore.
Dot was a loving: sister to John and Rosalee Strader; sister-in-law to Betty Jo Heldt; dear aunt to Joseph and Stephen Bradford, J. Charles Strader, Gwen Bickley, William Heldt, Charlie and Mary Moore, Sue and John Miller, Nancy and Gary Mack, Tom Moore, Bob Moore, Barbara and Greg Krull; great aunt to Ainsley and Carlyn Bradford; great-great-aunt to Bella Bradford, Marceline May Cooke, and many other great nieces and nephews of the Moore family.
Dot was a loyal, lifelong friend to many from Manassas and Radford, including the Buchanan, Burke, Burroughs, Colgan, Dawson, Dyer, Hollins, House, Lawston, McKenzie, Miles, Parrish, Pfohl, Pope, Rodgers, Ross, Rule, Uzzle, Vetter, and Wallace families, among many others. She will be greatly missed by all family, friends, former students, and scholarship recipients.
Visitation was held at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, Va., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. Visitation continued at Grace United Methodist Church, 9750 Wellington Road, Manassas Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, followed by a Service of Death and Resurrection. A light reception followed the service in the Grace UMC narthex.
Visitation was again held at Mullins Funeral Home, 120 W. Main Street, Radford, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Dot will be laid to rest alongside family at a graveside service to be held at West View Cemetery, Radford, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 at 10 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Grace United Methodist Church in Memory of Dot Moore.
The Moore family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.
