Mary Jean Dinkel

Name: Visitation
Start: 10/29/2016 10:00 AM
End: 10/29/2016 12:30 PM
Location: Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home

December 26, 1922 — October 25, 2016

Mary Jean Dinkel of Terre Haute passed away October 25, 2016 at the age of 93 at Harrison's Crossing. She was preceded in death in 2006 by her husband of 62 years, Robert H. "Bob" Dinkel, and is survived by her three sons: Gerry Dinkel and his wife Jean of San Diego, CA, Tom Dinkel and his wife Susie of Terre Haute, and Bill Dinkel of Brazil. She also leaves six grandchildren, Rob Dinkel (Baltimore MD), Sara Smith/Jeff (Terre Haute), Erin Fontaine/Kevin (San Francisco), Lyndsey Bartlett/Justin (Cincinnati), Tyler Dinkel/Jennifer (Terre Haute), Bill Dinkel (Terre Haute) and eight great-grandchildren.

Born Mary Jean Cotton near Pittsburgh, PA on December 26, 1922, she moved with her family to Terre Haute at an early age. Her parents were Ralph T. Cotton and June Walker Wiley Cotton. Both of her parents had earlier been widowed young and Mary Jean grew up with two step-sisters; each the daughter of one of her parents. She graduated from Wiley High School in 1941 and was the homecoming queen that year. Following graduation, Mary Jean went to work as an administrative assistant at Commercial Solvents, where she met a young Rose Poly grad working as a process engineer at CSC.

Mary Jean married Bob Dinkel in Terre Haute on November 24, 1944. Immediately following their wedding, the couple embarked on a tour of the U.S. East Coast courtesy of the U.S. Navy, as Bob fulfilled his WWII service. Training in West Hollywood, FL was followed by an assignment to the Naval Mine Warfare Test Station in Patuxent River, MD, where their first child Gerry was born. Following separation from the Navy in 1946, the couple returned to Terre Haute and, like many of their generation, resumed their civilian lives. Bob returned to work at CSC and Mary Jean settled in as a mother and homemaker. Sons Tom and Bill were born in Terre Haute. The family relocated twice in the 1950s to Monroe, LA as part of Bob's CSC job and in 1960 he founded Sycamore Engineering Co. in Terre Haute.

Mary Jean was active in supporting her children during their school years at St. Patrick's and Schulte High School and later she and Bob enjoyed their second home in Florida, as well as extensive global travel. Mary Jean was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church.

Visitation will take place Saturday, October 29 from 10am to 12:30 pm at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 111 South 9th St, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30pm with Father Martin Day, OFM Conv. officiating. Entombment will be at the Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum following Mass. Arrangements are under the direction of Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions may be made to St Benedict Church or to GallantFew.org.

Funeral information may also be found at www.callahanandhughes.com.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, October 29, 2016

10:00am - 12:30 pm (Eastern time)

St. Benedict Catholic Church

111 South 9th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807

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Mass of Christian Burial