Doris "Dot" Bedford (NY4S (EX-K4AOH))

I remember when I met my wife's grandmother (Dot) for the first time, she told me the Ford Explorer I was driving would look much better with a 2 meter antenna in place of the CB antenna I had on top of it. As I had been Novice many years earlier and let that expire, Dot elmered me by letting me have her old QST's and other ham related periodicals and by encouraging me to get licensed again. About a year later, I had taken and passed the Tech Plus test. My wife upgraded to Tech Plus from Novice shortly afterward as did her mother, Dot's daughter. It was good when the band opened and we could talk with Miss Dot on the radio from our home in West Columbia, SC to her QTH in Greenville, SC. I attended my first hamfest with Dot in 96 at the Greenville Hamfest and had a blast even though she had some difficulty in getting around. Dot was a charter member in the Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Society as was her late husband Don (W4WIY). She was also a charter member of the Tri-State Amateur Radio Club and was very active in Red Cross volunteer work for many years, receiving a 25 year service pin from them just prior to her death. Although she was plagued for many years with serious health problems, she always found a way to serve the community through ham radio. Many hams now on the air gained their licenses with help and encouragement from Miss Dot. We miss her but our lives are much better for having known her.

Contributed by: (KV4BL)

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