Rose E. W. Doster

Artist Rose Ellanore Wilhelm Doster, 80, passed away January 24, 2019, at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Medical Center in Easton with her husband and daughter by her side. Born in Sparks, MD, she was the daughter of the late Lewis Milford Wilhelm and Leona Naylor Wilhelm. A lifelong artist and longtime instructor of drawing, painting and ceramics, Rose is known to many as both a great artist and inspiring teacher. Certified since 1956 in both illustration and design by the Art Instruction School of Minneapolis, and design and painting since 1960 by the Maryland Institute of Art, where she also later completed postgraduate work, she had begun exhibiting her work across Maryland by 1969. She was also the owner of Potpourri Arts and Crafts, and Studio Eight. Rose's work has been exhibited in more than a dozen one-woman shows throughout Maryland and in more than 30 group shows across Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and Ohio, including the Paynter Gallery, the National League of American Pen Women and the Wilberg Art Gallery. Her art work is included in the permanent public collections of the Goodman Gallery, Taylor Manor Hospital in Ellicott City; Cafritz Hospital Gallery in Washington DC. Her work has been sold and is hanging in homes, galleries and businesses worldwide. A big proponent of community service when it came to her field of expertise, Rose donated her time serving as the Craft Superintendent of the Carroll County Fair, and was a judge for the county fairs in Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore, Frederick and Caroline Counties. She was the founding leader of the Shiloh Clovers 4-H Club as well as a Girl Scout leader, Girl Scout Community Director, and a Cub Scout Den Leader while in Carroll County. She served in various roles for organizations such as Carroll County Arts Council, Caroline County Arts Council, National League of American Pen Women, Plein Air Painters of the Eastern Shore, the Working Artist Forum, board of directors of Local Color of Easton, and co-chairman of the Plein Air Easton’s Mid-Shore Choose Three Competition. She held state and national offices for the National League of American Pen Women. Rose was also a member of the Rehoboth Art League, St. Michaels Art League, the Easton Academy of Art and the Wesley UMC in Hampstead. She is a past member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society, Maryland Craft Council, Hanover Art Guild, Carroll County Historical Society, past trustee for the Baltimore Museum of Art, past board member of the Carroll County Farmers Market, Kent Island Federation of Art, Chestertown Art League, Artists Equity, Caroline County Historical Society, Betsy Patterson Doll Club, Lady Baltimore Doll Club, Miss Carroll’s Doll Study Club, Eastern Shore Miniature Enthusiasts Club, and the Eastern Shore Doll Study Club. She had received many awards for her work locally, state and nationwide including a Medal from the Governor and First Lady of Maryland, the Peabody Award from the Maryland Institute of Art in 1960, several People’s Choice Awards for her art, a Cochran Award by the Rehoboth Art League and inclusion in many editions of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the East and Who’s Who of American Women between 1986 to 2017. In 2018, she was recognized by the Marquis Who’s Who with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award based upon her prominence in the field of art. Even with high state and national honors within her field, she considered one of her greatest accomplishments to being named as Volunteer of the Year by the Carroll County Historical Society for her design and production of 150 dolls for the organization’s 150th anniversary in 1987. Notably, the first doll has been enclosed in a time capsule. Before her health declined her other interests included gardening, doll collecting, miniatures and reading. She most enjoyed creating with her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Jesse Alfred Doster; son, Jeff Doster, Sr., of Hampstead; daughter, Roxane Doster Watts (John) of St. Michaels; grandson, Jeff Doster, Jr. (Brittany) of Manchester; granddaughters, Megan and Jessica Watts; and a great-grandson, Maxwell Doster. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Linda. A visitation will be held from 6-8 pm, Friday, February 1, 2019, at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home P.A. 200 S. Harrison St., Easton, MD 21601. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 2, 2019, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3239 Carrollton Road, Hampstead, MD 21074. Burial to follow at the church cemetery.

Rose E. W. Doster

May 11, 1938 - January 24, 2019