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Elizabeth "Betty" Dickinson
Elizabeth "Betty" Dickinson, a longtime resident of Davis, died June 17, 2001, of respiratory failure, in Mission Hills. Born Jan. 10, 1917, in Washington, D.C., to Rufus Saxton and Mabel Claire (Higgins) Thompson, she was 84.
She had been ill and in Holy Cross Hospital for the past 3 1/2 weeks. A strong woman, she put up a valiant fight. Even the doctors were amazed at her tenacity.
A Navy brat, she moved around, living in Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida, San Diego and Virginia. Her father, a 1903 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was a classmate of Adms. Stark and Nimitz.
Along with her older sister, Miriam, she attended the Ursuline Convent School in New Orleans for first and second grades, while her father was assigned there. The family eventually settled in Newport News, Va. She attended Morrison High School and was captain of the girls' basketball team.
She graduated in the mid-1930s and moved on to George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Her courses centered around secretarial skills, but she dreamed of becoming an actress - an aspiration that was realized in the 1950s with her participation in little theater.
In June 1941, she marriage William "Bill" Streit Dickinson Jr. of Fredericksburg, Va. They set up residence in Newport News and later Norfolk, Va. They had two daughters, Elizabeth Anne, who was born in 1942 and died at birth, and Sharon "Sherry" Jean, born in 1946.
During World War II, she worked for the Underwater Sound Laboratories on the sonic buoy and also for millionaire Horace E. Dodge II of Dodge automobiles as his private secretary. They remained good friends until his death in the 1960s.
She and her husband moved to California in 1951 due to their daughter's inability to remain in the cold Eastern climate. Their first residence was in Walnut Creek, after which they purchased a modest home in Concord. She worked for a time on Tank Farm Hill in Richmond at the Biological Laboratory, a division of Standard Oil Co., in plant pathology.
In 1959, she and Bill divorced. Betty, with her daughter, Sharon, relocated to Pleasant Hill and later to Pacheco. Around 1964, she began work in Davis as a clerk for PG&E. Her service ended with retirement approximately 25 years later. She remained a Davis resident, living in the Rancho Yolo mobile home park until moving to Alderson's Convalescent Hospital in Woodland in 1997.
She moved to the Granada Hills Convalescent Hospital in Southern California in 1999 when her granddaughter, Sherry (Harris) Rader and her family moved south.
She had many friends in the Davis area and loved to visit with them at Quessie's and then at Fluffy's Donuts. Through the years, she befriended many, including teen-agers and the homeless.
Her hobbies included miniatures, all types of crafts and writing. Those who knew her will recall the writing tablet she always carried. She authored several manuscripts, including four children's stories, had her work critiqued and praised by "Twilight Zone" creator Rod Serling, but was never published.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon "Sherry" Harris of Granada Hills; her sister, Miriam O'Malley of Newport News, Va.; a brother, Richard Thompson of Kill Devil Hills, N.C.; a granddaughter, Sherry Rader of Lancaster; a grandson, Christopher Harris of Burbank; three great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Brandon and Rebecca Rader of Lancaster; and six nieces and nephews, Phyllis Gaskins, Chuck and David Wingfield and Debbie Salvant of Virginia, Donna Heath of Tennessee and Linda Cooper of Alabama.
Graveside services were today at Eternal Valley Cemetery in Newhall. Flowers may be sent to the cemetery.
DIEDESCH
Elmer "Al" Francis Diedesch
Elmer "Al" Francis Diedesch, a longtime resident of Davis and Sacramento, died in the early morning hours of Feb. 27, 2005, at University Retirement Community in Davis. He was 85 years old.
Friends are invited to a graveside service at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Davis Cemetery, 820 Pole Line Road, with a reception to follow.
Born May 24, 1919, in Spokane, Wash., he graduated from Wilbur High School in Wilbur, Wash., in 1937, and from Washington State University in 1942.
He became a Davis resident in 1959 while working for the state of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in Sacramento. A brief transfer to Redding followed before he returned to Sacramento and served 38 years before retiring from ABC.
As a World War II Veteran with the 33rd Infantry Division, he was awarded the Purple Heart for serving in the battle at Luzon. In addition to military service, he served as a life member of the Alturas Elks Lodge for 56 years.
He was remembered for his quiet, humble ways, deep love for family and friends, and simple way of life.
He was preceded in death by his son, William Francis Diedesch in 1964; his brother, Henry Diedesch of Spokane, Wash.; and his sisters, Marie Diedesch of Corvallis, Ore., and Marguerite Gould of Seattle.
He is survived by his daughters, Mary Kay Hill and her husband Mike of West Sacramento, and Allison DeArkland and her husband Robert of Fair Oaks; his son, Jon Diedesch and his wife Barbara of Orangevale; his twin brother, Ernie Diedesch of Spokane, Wash.; his sister-in-law, Frances Diedesch of Spokane, Wash.; and his former wife and lifelong friend, Katherine Reinwand of Davis.
He is further survived by his grandchildren, Douglas Hicks, Kerry Hicks, Jennifer Hill, Joshua Diedesch, Danielle DeArkland, Timothy Diedesch, Ryan DeArkland and Jessica Diedesch; and four great-grandchildren, Amie, Aaron, Zachary and Jamison.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Loaves and Fishes of Sacramento, P.O. Box 2161, Sacramento, CA 95812, or to Yolo Hospice. P.O. Box 1014, Davis, CA 95616).
DIEM
George A. Diem
George A. Diem, described as a kind and gentle person, died on July 26, 2003, of cancer. Born Oct. 30, 1939, he was 63.
He was an avid sailor, photographer, cat lover and bird watcher. Whatever he did, he did with zest and enthusiasm, his friends say.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary I. and Kenneth A. Diem. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Diane Diem and Clint Prentice of Los Angeles; his aunt Izetta and cousin Pat of Sebastian, Fla.; his cousin Mary Ann and her husband Bill of Citrus Heights; and his former wife, Jo Ellen Ryan Trapp. He also leaves numerous other cousins.
He also leaves a host of close friends, including the late Sy Gold, George Applegarth, Dick Luna, and his beloved friends at Reruns in Davis -- Shirley, Bob, Rosario, Horace and others too numerous to list.
"George exhibited dignity throughout his illness and never complained. He was very brave, " his friends say. "George will be greatly missed by all of us. But, he will remain an inspiration and an example of a person who could give unconditional love."
No memorial service is planned, but friends are asked to light a candle and think of him with love.
DIEMER
Doris M. Diemer
Doris Diemer, a resident of Davis since 1989, died Feb. 6, 2006, from complications of diabetes.
A memorial service begins at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road. A brief interment ceremony on the church groups will precede the service.
Born in 1926 in London, where her father was on sabbatical leave from the University of Minnesota, she was named Doris Grover Mudgett. His colleagues were astonished when he and his wife returned with two daughters instead of only the one who had accompanied them outbound. Her husband would joke that she was born in the same year and city, and to the same linguistic tradition, as Elizabeth II.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1947 from Wellesley College, followed by her master’s degree in 1949 from the University of Chicago, and a master of social work in 1958 from Wayne State University. She was a founding member of the Society for Clinical Social Work and was named a fellow by the American Group Psychotherapy Association. She made her career as a social worker in institutional settings and as a clinician in private practice.
She made her home in various locations across the country, including Minneapolis (1926-1943), Wellesley, Mass. (1943-1947), Chicago (1947-1948), Detroit (Ferndale, 1948-1958), and again in Chicago (1958-1960), when she marriage Bill Diemer.
Her marital years were in Chicago (1960-1961), Los Angeles (1962-1989), and Davis (Stonegate, Willowbank, University Retirement Community, North Davis, 1989-2006).
She was credited with successfully reviving the moribund Davis chapter of the League of Women Voters, whose weary senior board was ready to dissolve the group. She vigorously recruited younger women with a public service bent, who now comprise the management.
After retiring from the California Youth Authority, she made productive use of her retirement years, 1989 to 2006. She was closely associated with the Unitarian Universalist congregation, the League of Women Voters and was a senior swimmer with the Davis Aquatic Masters. She was also a prize-winning late-life entrant into watercolor and a card-playing member of the University Farm Circle’s bridge group.
She was preceded in death by her only sister, Roxie Mudgett Holland-Moritz of Ann Arbor, Mich.
She is survived by her husband, Bill, a retired demographer and Davis author; and her daughters, Diane an occupational therapist in Mountain View; and Karen, a bioinformatics scientist in Albany; and her nephews, Bruce, Michael and David.
She anticipated a long life, since both her father and her mother, Professors Bruce D. Mudgett and Mildred Dennet Mudgett, lived to the age of 96.
Well-wishers may send flowers to the church at 27074 Patwin Road. Commemorative donations may be made to one of her two favorite charities: The University of Chicago Alumni Fund and the Unitarian Universalist Chaplaincy at Wellesley.
DIERKS
Richard "Dick" Dierks
Richard "Dick" Dierks died suddenly at his home in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Dec. 25, 2003.
He retired from the UCD pomology department in 1991 after more than 35 years of service. In 2002, he and his wife Barbara relocated to Myrtle Beach to be near their son Kerry.
He leaves behind his beloved wife of 49 years, Barbara; their son Kerry and his wife Nancy; two step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two sisters; five brothers; and other family and friends.
"Dick will be missed by all who were fortunate to have known him, " his family says.
At his request, there will be no services.
DILLON
Loretta Agnes Dillon
Loretta Agnes Dillon died peacefully on Aug. 28, 2004, at St. John's Retirement Village in Woodland. She was 96.
Born Aug. 18, 1908, she was a native of San Francisco and a longtime resident of San Mateo. She moved to Davis in 1991 and lived at Covell Gardens for many years.
She was a kindergarten teacher for 21 years. She enjoyed painting, craft projects and sharing time with her many friends.
Her family says she will be missed for her caring spirit, love of family and wonderful sense of humor.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, and her five sisters and brothers.
She is survived by nieces and nephews, and their families: Cathy Wilkinson, Claire Camozzi, Sheila Bliss, and Bill, Jim and Mike Donohue.
A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. James Church, 1275 B St., Davis. Private burial is at Holy Cross Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Davis Funeral Chapel.
