Dallas L. Dinger's Obituary
Dallas Dinger, 95, formerly of West Lafayette, passed away on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at his home in Yorktown, Virginia. Born near Maples, Indiana in 1927, he was the son of the late Robert and Gertrude (Liger) Dinger. He was the youngest of 13 daughters and 2 sons. As a farm boy, he did chores and even had to milk the cows before he could go to school. He entered Hoagland High School in the fall of 1941 as the U.S.A. entered World War II. Due to the war, the students didn't get to participate in many of the typical fun activities, but he did learn to entertain his classmates by writing funny themes in English class and began a lifelong fascination with words. The Dingers were a musical family with ears for music. Dallas played violin and guitar, when he was 20, he sent away for an instruction book to learn to play piano.
After graduating from high school, he farmed with his father, then worked at Tokheim and International Harvester. But the job he enjoyed the most was playing piano for dance bands and even had his own band, Ye Olde Lamplighters. The music career was cut short in 1950 by a call from Uncle Sam who drafted him to serve in the U.S. Army in Korea. He was wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart. After his tour of duty was complete, he returned home to Indiana to work again in the factory. But a layoff changed his life again. Using the G.I. bill, he enrolled at Indiana University to major in journalism. He thoroughly enjoyed college life, studying journalism, and creating witty headlines, reporting for the I.U. newspaper The Daily Student, teaching driver education, and participating in the Wesley Foundation. Some of his favorite stories came from this time of his life.
After graduation, he began a career as an editor at Purdue University in the Agricultural Information Department combining his farming heritage with his passion for journalism. He then met and courted Joan Nay, a nurse from Greenwood, Indiana. They married in November of 1958 and for two years they lived in Lebanon, Indiana as they each commuted to their jobs in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. In 1960, they bought their home in West Lafayette and raised and loved two daughters. Together, Dallas and Joan, enjoyed Cubs and Reds baseball, college sports especially Purdue and Indiana basketball and football, enjoyed Lafayette Citizens Band concerts, and served and connected to the body of Christ at Trinity United Methodist Church and West Lafayette Christian Church. When Joan fell ill with Alzheimer's disease, he faithfully cared for her at home as long as he could. When she had to go live in memory care facility, he continued to visit her almost every single day.
Dallas was proud to be a 5-gallon blood donor. He also loved telling stories, playing piano, working crossword puzzles, fixing broken things and jerry rigging solutions rather than buying anything new. He loved his God and Savior Jesus Christ, his family and his country, the U.S.A.
He is survived by daughters, Amanda (Brett) Newman and Amelia (Ted) Youel; sister, Nola Pelfrey; grandchildren, Will and Emily Youel; and many nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Joan in 2014; and 13 siblings.
Funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25, 2022, at Harper's Community Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven with visitation one hour prior. Pastor John Dittmer officiating. Burial in IOOF Cemetery, New Haven. Preferred memorials are to the Indiana United Methodist Children's Home https://iumch.org/donate-iumch/ or the Billy Graham Evangelical Association https://billygraham.org/give/give-online/ For online condolences please visit www.harperfuneralhome.com.
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