The Missouri State Higway Patrol reports that gospel singer/songwriter Dottie Rambo died in an early Sunday morning (05/11/08) bus crash. Patrol officers say Dottie's tour bus was traveling southwest on I-44 about two miles east of Mt Vernon, MO.. when the vehicle ran off the roadway, striking the guard rail and finally hitting an embankment. Reports say it's unclear if the 2:00 am accident was weather-related.

Radio host Paul Heil (The Gospel Greats).. says Dottie's former husband, Buck Rambo, told him: "Dottie was apparently asleep in her bunk at the time of the mishap. The force of the impact apparently threw her to the floor, causing injuries which proved fatal."

Rambo's booking agent.. Beckie Simmons (BSA Agency) told reporters: "She was a giant in the gospel music industry." Dottie was enroute from Illinois to Texas. She was to have appeared today at the Fountain Of Life Church in North Richland Hills with Lulu Roman and Naomi Sego, as part of the "Golden Girls of Gospel Music Tour." Dottie Rambo was 74.

The Home-going Celebration service for Dottie Rambo will be held at Christ Church, 15354 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville, TN 37211, on Monday, May 19, at 1 PM. Close friends and family are invited to a visitation in the Hospitality Center at Christ Church from 11 AM to 12:30 PM prior to the service.
Dottie was pronounced dead on the scene.. the injured were taken to St Johns Hospital in Springfield, MO. Others, on the coach, were taken to St Johns Hospital in Springfield, MO: Dottie's manager Larry Ferguson suffered two broken legs, a broken jaw and other injuries.. and is presently listed in stable condition. Ferguson's sons, 8 year old Christian and 3 year old Pierce remain in the hospital with numerous cuts and bruises. Larry's wife, Judy.. was treated and released.

Bus driver.. Ronnie Meadows and product manager/webmaster Chris Barnes remain hospitalized with numerous injuries.. Please pray for all the familes,. and especially for these two men. Meadows and Barnes are in critical condition.

Entombment at the mausoleum at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Memorial Park will be for family only immediately following her Home-going Celebration.
Visitations will be on Saturday, May 17, from 4 to 8 PM and Sunday, May 18, from 2 to 4 PM at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204.
Visitations and services are open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Donations to help offset the expenses of the funeral can be made payable to the Dottie Rambo Memorial Fund and mailed to P. O. Box 50508, Nashville, TN 37205.
Christ Church
15354 Old Hickory Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37211
For directions, click here.

Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home
660 Thompson Lane
Nashville, TN 37204
For directions, click here.

News video of the accident can been seen from a local Springfield, MO News Channel website -
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/18850914.html?video=YHI&t=a