Ellen Dingman

Ellen Marie Dingman, age 76 years, wife, mother, teacher, and friend died peacefully at 11:00 p.m. on Monday, December 30, 2019 with her husband at her bedside in Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan following a brief illness.  Mr. Dingman is grateful for the compassionate and skilled care offered by the staff at Beaumont.

She was born on December 9, 1943 in Niles, Michigan to Roscoe D. and Florence M. (Kirk) True, and was graduated with the class of 1961 from Niles High School.  She earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1966 from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo) and was employed as an elementary school teacher by the Pontiac, Michigan school district. (The photograph above this obituary was her school photograph from her first year as a teacher.)  She moved with her husband to Madison Heights, Michigan for a few years, and then settled in Leonard, Michigan.  She earned a Master’s degree from Oakland University, Rochester Hills, Michigan, and retired from teaching in 1996 ending a thirty-year career.

Ellen was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles.  In Pontiac, she was active in the local education association, and was a regular patron of the Addison Township Public Library, enjoying novels and mysteries, and other subjects that caught her interest.  She also enjoyed going out to lunch with friends – many of whom were fellow teachers – and cooking at home, usually Swedish meatballs or a spicy cannelloni carbonara with bacon.

On April 25, 1965 in Battle Creek, Michigan she married Mr. Lynn G. Dingman with whom she celebrated last year the remarkable Fifty-fourth anniversary of their wedding.  They were sadly preceded in death by a son, Ronald L. Dingman in 2015; and by Ellen’s brother, Ronald True, and parents, Roscoe and Florence True.

Surviving family includes her husband, Lynn G. Dingman of Leonard, Michigan; daughter-in-law Tracie Hawke Dingman; grandchildren Jaris Dingman, Justin Hawke, and Joshua Hawke; a sister-in-law, Lynette True; and a niece, Heather and nephew, Joel, and a cousin Robin Pullin.

Services for Ellen Dingman will be at the graveside at Union Cemetery in Berrien Center, Michigan in the spring.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

After earning college degrees, Ellen continued to learn through reading and library browsing, but more important than acquiring knowledge was sharing with others as a teacher, friend, cook, and wife.