Mrs. Diana L. Dodd, 85, of Anna, where she was born, raised and has lived her entire life, died at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005, in Jonesboro Health Care Center.
She was born Dec. 17, 1919 in Anna, the daughter of John Frederick and Gladys Spires Lentz.
She married Kenneth W. Dodd Oct. 30, 1943 in Santa Ana, Calif.
He survives.
Diana was educated in Anna and remembered well the ole three-story junior high.
After graduation from Anna-Jonesboro in 1937, she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale and received her bachelor of science degree in education.
She was assistant county superintendent of schools in Union County until 1943.
By then Kenneth was in the Army Air Force and she went to Santa Ana to marry him Oct. 30, 1943.
For a year they were able to be together and were at five different air bases in the states.
When Kenneth went overseas to India and flew to the Hump, Diana started teaching at Dongola High School but came to Anna-Jonesboro after the first year and for eight months.
After finishing graduate school and receiving her master of arts, she joined the English staff at SIUC and taught for 28 years.
At SIUC she set up a basic skills program for students of English.
It eventually merged with a much larger unit, including reading and math.
She kept teaching while Kenneth went into driving and training harness horses. Diana loved it too and helped in many ways through the years.
Diana had always loved and ridden saddle horses since she was a child and practically knew every road in Union County.
In the time since her retirement, she and Kenneth had traveled all over the United States and seen much of this wonderful country.
Diana had a very severe heart attack on May 6, 2002, and two more heart surgeries after that, which ultimately led to her death.
She leaves behind to cherish her husband, Kenneth Dodd of Anna; two half sisters, Sarah Lentz Sinclair and Clara Lentz Westmoreland both of Marshall, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Evelyn Dodd of Palm Desert, Calif. and Betty E. Dodd of Anna; also her adored beagle Choteau; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Services for Mrs. Diana L. Dodd will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, in Jonesboro Cemetery, with the Rev. Joe Aldridge, Carol Kroeger, Pat Mueller and friends of Diana officiating.
Interment will be in the Jonesboro Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to P.A.W.S. of Anna.Envelopes will be available at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home and at the graveside.Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.