Dinah Kay Vasbinder

Dinah (Field Farrington) Vasbinder was born October 20, 1948 to Ruth and Carroll Field in Terre Haute, Indiana where she was raised and to which she returned to care for her mother. It was also in Terre Haute that she met and in 2014 married the love of her life, Carroll Vasbinder.

Dinah wore many hats in her life; graduate of IU, librarian, travel agent, advocate for the League of Women Voters, Director of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood in Indiana, hotel sales for Hampton Inn, and director of the Minority Health Coalition in Terre Haute. Dinah was a member of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Terre Haute, a member of the NAACP and an Associate with the Sisters of Providence, serving on their social justice ministry.

The world has lost a mighty woman. To those who have known her in life, we are all much richer for her presence and will deeply mourn her absence. To her core she was a reproductive rights warrior and was key to the retention of abortion rights in Indiana during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Dinah was determined to make sure all women had agency (control) over all aspects of their lives.

Dinah is survived by: her husband, Carroll Vasbinder; her chosen family of 30+years Carolyn Cooke and Frank Akaiwa and their children Jonathon, Benjamin and Abigail; Carroll’s daughter Dalene Vasbinder (Ken McCullough) and his grandchildren Nathan and Kaylen.

Dinah fought the good fight each and every day and cancer was the only foe to vanquish her incredible light and power. In the end she was surrounded by love, laughter, stories and favorite music. Her body may have left this life but her spirit remains in all those who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, you are invited to make a donation in Dinah’s name to the Sisters of Providence, Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Terre Haute, or Planned Parenthood.

A memorial service in celebration of Dinah’s life will be held at 11a.m. on August 13 at Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 4950 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, Rev. Rebecca Zelensky officiating.