The end of an era
It’s never entirely unexpected when the news comes of the end of a life lived long and well.
Any time you can honestly say that someone was vibrant and with it and dynamic almost to the age of 97, loved by her family and her friends and generations of children whom she taught, that’s a life that goes into the books for sure as one lived long and well.
But oh… how it hurts when such a life draws to a close.
As one in The Legal Genealogist‘s family has drawn to a close.
The news came in the mail this past week. All I had to do was see the return address and I knew.
It was a note from my cousin Sherry in Indiana.
And she was telling me that her mother, my cousin Thelma, was gone.
Thelma Rena (Livingston) Dibble was born on the 27th of June 1919 in Hollister, Oklahoma, to Leva Pyron Livingston and Ova (Winningham) Livingston.
My first cousin twice removed, Thelma was one of the very youngest of her generation; her first cousin, my grandmother Opal, was the oldest. They were both granddaughters of Martha Louise (Shew) Baird Livingston, but my grandmother’s mother Eula was Martha Louise’s oldest daughter (by Jasper Baird); Thelma’s father Leva was the next to the youngest of Martha Louise’s children by Abigah Livingston. So there was enough of a gap between them that my grandmother was married and a mother before Thelma was even born.
Yet their early days were much alike. Times of hardship but times of joy tucked into a large and loving family. Thelma never had a birthday party until she was an adult. Way too many meals were cornbread and milk. Dresses were made from flour sacks, and she owned exactly two at a time: one for school and one for church. Shoes were resoled as often as they could be to make them last.
Electricity didn’t make it out to the farm where she grew up until long after she was married and had moved away, running water was an unheard-of luxury, and her prize possession was a kerosene lamp of cut glass that she could use to read by. She learned to drive at the age of 10, she substituted for a fourth grade teacher for an entire week when she was only a high school freshman herself.
She graduated from Oklahoma Central University and began teaching science in junior college at age 20. She continued to teach school in Oklahoma in a one-room schoolhouse then in high school.
When she met Bill Dibble of Indiana on a USO hayride in 1943, it was love at first sight. They married in Hollister in 1943, and Thelma followed Bill to Pensacola, Florida, where he served in the Air Force. After the war, he brought her to his home on the family farm in Rising Sun, Indiana.
Thelma soon started teaching in Rising Sun — first in the second grade, and by the end of her 37 years with the Rising Sun school system, she’d taught just about everything and everyone there was to teach. The award that meant the most to her was the Teacher of the Year award, presented by the Rising Sun Middle School.
She told me about that award, and about the children she’d taught, and about her life in Oklahoma and Indiana when I had the great good fortune to be able to sit with her after the National Genealogical Society Conference in 2012.
She told me of the storm cellar dug deep into the earth away from the house, with benches on one side and a small opening on the side away from the door so that if the door ended up covered by debris, they could escape through the opening. Sitting out on the porch on spring nights with her mother, watching the sky and listening for the telltale sounds of the wind. The time the tornado took the shed and the barn roof. The time the lightning brought down the chimney, sending bricks crashing down inches from her brothers’ heads as they slept. The ball of lightning rolling across the floor of her bedroom and hitting her with a jolt, leaving her stunned.
The time her second grade class was hurried across the street into her own grandmother’s storm cellar because there wasn’t enough room in the school shelters for all the children. The wet towels they had to use to breathe through as the dust rolled through town. Waking up in the morning with gritty dust on the chenille bedspreads and in everyone’s mouths. Wondering sometimes if they were going to wake up at all.
She told me of boarding with my great grandmother, and how she remembered so well Eula’s homemade bread — how it was thick and the crust was just the right consistency. It was filling and smelled like heaven. With butter and cinnamon and a little sugar, it was breakfast, lunch, a meal in and of itself.
She shared with me her joy in her daughters, my cousins Sherry (Dibble) Timms and Angela (Dibble) Morrison, in her granddaughters and great grandchildren. Her memories of all the children of Rising Sun that she knew and loved so well.
She gave me a peek into that life lived so long and so well.
A life that has now come to a close.
And the sun for my family has set in Rising Sun.
Beautifully written, Judy. It sounds like Thelma had a very full life with many stories to share. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Recently, I was able to prove the connection of one of my husband’s second great grandmothers, Elizabeth (Dean) Culy, to a Dean family that was in Craig Township, Switzerland County, in 1820 and then Sparta Township, Dearborn County, from 1825 to at least 1846. As I’m sure you know, Ohio County was carved out of Dearborn in 1844. Do you have an Dean family connections in the area–migrants from Maryland? I’m still trying to prove Elizabeth Dean’s mother’s original surname, Ellett according to a biography of one of her sons but not yet supported by other evidence.
No Dean connection for me at all. (Other than a second husband of a great aunt, and that was in Texas.)
Mrs Dibble was a wonderful person and teacher. I am a former student. She was one of my favorite teachers. She made you feel like she cared about you and you wanted to learn so you would not disappoint her. She was also firm when needed. She will be missed. Great tribute and thanks for sharing.
She loved — adored — her students, Yvonne. Thanks for commenting.
Best teacher ever love her very much.
A lovely tribute.
Very special and beautiful tribute.
A truly beautiful tribute.
What a wonderful tribute! She sounds like a fascinating woman who did indeed live her life well.
Mrs. Dibble was my teacher and later on my friend! Loved her sense of independence and “can do” attitude!
Thanks so much for adding your voice to this post!
I had Mrs. Dibble as a math teacher during the energy crisis in the late 70s. She told us some stories about her life as she stood in front of the class wearing a muffler and gloves. She was a good teacher – kind and always caring.
Kind and caring is one great legacy.
I met Mrs Dibble as an adult and quickly became a great admirer of hers. She was my poster girl for growing old well…stay involved with your commiunity, never stop learning, share your gifts with others. She radiated love of God and mankind. I was so blessed to have known her. Show the angels how it’s done Mrs Dibble!
I couldn’t agree more, Carol: poster girl for growing old well.
The good teacher & person who gave me my First Job: washing down the blackboards each Friday in 2nd grade (’55-’56) for 25 cents! I felt so Special!
I’m sure you were special to her — all the children she loved were special!
Thelma was a dear friend and school teacher of mine. I lived by her for a while in Rising Sun. When my mom passed she really helped me through it! After we moved b to Ky she and I wrote letters every two wks to each other. I was devastated when she died. May she fly high in heaven. She is my angel!
We’ll all miss her, Vickie.
I had Mrs. Dibble as a teacher, I will never forget her. I do not think anyone who had her will ever forget her.
I don’t think anyone who ever knew her will ever forget her!
I gave Mrs. Dibble her first and only ride on a motorcycle. I was 16 at the time and always stopped by while riding by her house. She was my favorite teacher and I have held fond memories of her since. Family may contact me for this story if they would like to know more. Rest easy sweet lady.
What a great story… I don’t suppose you have pictures?
No I am sorry I don’t
this was possibly 1979 1980 and pictures were not so prevalent.
Darn!!
Beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul. I did not have the privilege to know Thelma as a student but in the early 2000’s i became her Chiropractor. This woman was amazing! Sharp as a tack till the end. While her body physically betrayed her long ago, nothing could stop this woman from living an amazing life. Into her 90s she tutored my daughter and im proud to say I knew her and considered her a friend. We should all be so lucky to live a life as full and complete as Thelma lived hers.
“We should all be so lucky to live a life as full and complete as Thelma lived hers.” Isn’t that the truth?
Mrs. Dibble was a beautiful soul. She was the kindest most caring person I do believe I have ever met. I am proud to have known her, and I’m proud to have learned from her. She never forgot any of her “kids” and her kids will never forget her. But I sure will miss her.
We will all miss her, Rick.
I had Ms Dibble for math class. She helped me to love math and realize my potential. She is the only teacher that i can remember from my school days. She will truly be missed. RIH
She was so loved!
Mrs. Dibble was my teacher in grades 6 and 7. I adored her. She touched many lives & happy memories followed her
Thanks for posting, Maria. She was one very special lady.
I am sorry for your loss, my husband Jack Stowe knew her and he always spoke of her and what a Wonderful Person she was. Jack drove for Catch a Ride and transported her to the store and to the Senior Center or wherever she needed to go. Now Jack will see her again in Heaven. May she RIP, Prayers for the Family .
Thelma truly touched everyone she ever met… 🙂
I was also a student of hers. She was always kind and caring. Took the time and patiences to help me with my reading and sounds . I think of her often because I love to read today. Take books wherever I go. Her love for God showed in everything she did. Angels are singing in heaven.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Thelma!
Mrs Dibble was our neighbor And special friend at church, truly an amazing lady. Thelma had a heart of gold. Will always have fond memories of this wonderful lady.
Thanks so much for sharing your memories of her!
As a young teen boy, Mrs Dibble had taught me in middle school. One of my favorite teachers by far. One summer day, while riding my motorcycle down her road, I seen her in her yard and stopped to say hello. She informed me she accidentally got locked out of her house and asked if two “could ride on that machine “? I was 13 and told her yes, she got on the back of my motorcycle and held on and laughed the entire trip to where Billy was working in the field. She told me years later that was her first and last ride on a motorcycle! I am thankful I was able to give her one more great memory!
Thanks so much for sharing your memory!