Page 40 - Discover Fall 2022

of his service, Everette Alfred Dooley was down,” Rose explained, as she remembered
honorably discharged from the United States her concern for her new husband.

Army on March 17th 1955.
After about a year, the house was finished
Returning home to Bedford, he and they moved in. Three little girls:
went back to work at the weaving mill in Marlene, Mitzi, and Melody were to follow

Vinton. He didn’t stay there long before the in the coming years, and the rest is history.
GE electrical plant opened in neighboring
At eighty nine years old, Mr. Dooley
Salem, where he secured a job in the shipping
can still be seen riding his 4-wheeler up and
department. There he worked for the next 36
down the gravel road on which we live. He
years, until his retirement in June of 1991.
can often be found repairing the potholes
During the first couple
that form, grading the
years of his employment
road with his tractor,
at the plant, a friend set
cutting weeds growing
him up on a blind date
along pasture fences, or
with a Salem native
anything else that needs
named Rose Wirt. It was
to be done. He is always
love at first sight, and they
there. Perhaps now you
were engaged just three
may also say to yourself,
months after that first
“Wow, they just don’t
night out together. Three
make them like they used
months after that, they
to.”
were married, in July of
1960. Inspirational
doesn’t seem to be a
During his first 2
strong enough word to
years at the plant, Alfred
describe Alfred. In my
and Rose bought a 20-
opinion, he is the definition of the American
acre plot of land in Stewartsville, very close
Dream. He went away to fight a war in the
to where his grandparents’ house still stands
defense of his country, and freedom around
to this day. He built the house in which they
the world. Then he returned to build a home
still live in with his bare hands. With the help
and raise a beautiful family on a quiet piece
of his father, he would work the first shift
of land in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
at the plant for 8 hours, drive all the way to
Mountains. Hero is the best way to describe
Stewartsville to work on the house, and then
him; not only to me, but to his family, and
drive back to their apartment in Salem to
his friends. I think I speak for every one of
catch some sleep before work the next day.
us when I say, “Thank you for your service to
“He would work himself to death if our country Mr. Dooley.”

the doctor didn’t tell him he needed to slow

38 Discover Smith Mountain Lake FALL 2022