Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

August 18, 2021

Douglas Wade Booth completed a life well lived on August 18, 2021. He was born in Atlanta on November 25, 1924 to Nell and Clark Booth. He graduated from high school at the age of 16 and then entered Washington & Lee University. Realizing he wanted to become an electrical engineer, he transferred to the University of Alabama but his studies were interrupted by WWII. He tells the story of wanting to go into the Navy (because he heard they had the best food!) but was randomly put in the Army recruitment line. When heads were turned, Doug snuck over to the Navy line and signed up.  Later he decided "Navy officers had better looking uniforms than sailors," so he applied and was accepted into midshipman's school. 

After the war, Doug returned to the University of Alabama and graduated cum laude, phi beta kappa, in engineering. He married Emily Anne Dabney (a business student at a college in Mississippi where his mother taught business classes) in 1948 and went to work for GE in New York and Massachusetts.  Deciding he liked the southern weather better, he dabbled in hog, cattle, and grain farming and worked at the Dabney family furniture store in Jackson, Tennessee before joining Duke Energy Co. He rose quickly in the company, eventually becoming president and COO before his retirement in 1989.

He was continually active in, as well as president of, numerous outstanding civic organizations. Among the many were the Charlotte Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the NC Symphony; and chairman of the board of the Brevard Music Center. The entire Booth family spent many relaxing summers in their Brevard cabin. He also served several terms on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. Doug was honored for his civic contributions to the arts by the naming of part of the Charlotte Blumenthal Center "The Booth Playhouse."  He also received North Carolina’s “Order of the Long Leaf Pine," the Robinson Award (the highest honor given to a Duke employee), and the National Conference Silver Medallion.

Doug and Emily were avid travelers and they loved introducing their family to new places in the US and overseas. In their later retirement years they lived at Sharon Towers where he was known as a loyal fan of his Alabama Crimson Tide and the Atlanta Braves, and as a pretty good bridge and poker player. Over the last several years he was confined to a wheelchair and dealt with debilitating health issues, but he never lost his sense of humor and his quiet courage in dealing with adversity. He often prayed that God would help him not to complain and he rarely did. He set an example for his children and grandchildren through his love of God by reading his Bible every day and never missing weekly Bible Study at Sharon Towers, and involvement in Myers Park Presbyterian Church as Deacon, Elder and long-time Sunday School teacher; through his demonstration of the importance of education, his honesty, and generosity of time and money; and most of all his love and devotion to his family. Surviving are his beloved wife of 73 years, Emily; daughters Janice Maner & husband Dave of Greensboro, and Tricia Martin and husband Jim of Charlotte; and granddaughters Dabney Maner Sninski, Whitley Maner Gasaway and Taylor Martin Nelson. He was also Great Granddaddy to Drew, Carter, Kensley, Joseph, Emily, Elizabeth, Abigail, and Annie. 

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Sharon Towers where Doug and Emily lived for 21 years and the kind and supportive Hospice team.

Memorials may be made to Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Pl, Charlotte, NC 28207 (myersparkpres.org); or to the Charlotte Symphony, First Citizens Bank Plaza, 128 S Tryon St, STE 350, 28202 (charlottesymphony.org)

A private graveside service for the family will be held at Evergreen Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life at Myers Park Presbyterian Church at 2:00, Friday, Aug 27, 2021 where all are welcome. Social distancing will be observed, and masks required. A reception will follow in Oxford Hall. The service will also be streamed live on the MPPC website.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.