Samuel Crockett Dingus

Earl’s father, Samuel Crockett Dingus, (10/29/07 – 10/31/1954) passed away at 47 years old. He had a third grade education and was an excellent carpenter but later became a coal miner.  This was in the country about nine miles from Appalachia, in Virginia and during the time of the depression.

After the depression, Samuel got a job in a coal mine.   They moved to Jenkins, KY. The time was spring, probably around April or May.  Every year, they would call a strike.  John L. Lewis, (he hated that name) called it.  Strike could last 2-3 months.  During that time his family received sometimes as much as $3 a week but usually $1 per week of "script," which was put out by Consolidated Coal Company to be used only in the coal town area.  This would buy necessities for the family of six at the time.

Once a month he bought a 25 pound bag of flour.   Out of that bag of flour, mother would sometimes make biscuits and gravy every day and sometimes that’s all they had to eat for the week. This was their diet in the winter time.  In the spring it would change a bit.  In spring,  they could go out in the yard and find different plants that Mom knew, and so she would cook these and they would eat from the local plants. 

Changing the tone … the evenings were spent quite differently.  Usually a question and answer period with the entire family came to be.  Sometimes a story had been told to the children and they had to rehearse it.  They had to recount the details of the story, and then spent about an hour in a spelling bee.  The children would have to make up a story and this is what was rehearsed in their minds and then they re-told it back to mom and dad.  That was a typical evening anytime of the year.  Before the children went to bed then was, of course, a time of prayer.  Mom would at first lead the prayer because Dad did not become a Christian until he was 14.   Dad loved the book of Daniel and would tell stories and say “Now isn’t that something.”                     Dictated to Greg Ohly, 2013

Amanda's Song

Amanda's Song

Earl J. Dingus  ~  Nov. 17, 1924 - August 23, 2014

Song of Amanda Grace Morefield Dingus – mother of Earl.  

He cannot remember a time when she was not singing.

She was singing this after his 9-month old brother David Curtis passed away:

Budded on Earth to Bloom in Heaven

Into our life the angel came

And plucked the bud so rare

And placed it there in beauty's care

T’will bloom at Jesus feet.

Chorus

O, Jesus help us bear our grief

And heal each wounded heart

Prepare us all in heaven to meet

Where we shall never, never part.

Could we but lift that misty veil

That hides that heavenly land

We’d see our precious darling there

And surely understand.

Chorus                            

This was a difficult time for the family when David Curtis left this earth.  Earl remembers his father making the casket for little David Curtis.  Earl at 5-years old, watched father Samuel Crockett Dingus build the casket, place David in it, close it and then carry it to the cemetery.  He placed the coffin in the grave and then covered it himself.  There was no Pastor or church of any kind in the area.  But Earl remembers his father and mother singing “Jesus Keep me Near the Cross,” a beautiful and touching hymn.

As part of Earl's funeral, there were two service men who honored his memory as a soldier and presented an American flag to his widow.  Photos of the two men in uniform are included in this blog.  The salute was beautiful and a fitting tribute to our WWII navy veteran.

The flag was presented to Barbara Dingus, Earl's wife of eight years.

Jesus And My Brother Earl

   What is our responsibility--Our mission on earth?  To answer these questions, we need only to look at Jesus and see what He did through His body when He was on earth.  And, that is what we are to do as His body today.  What did Jesus do?  He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, healed the sick, befriended sinners, preached the gospel, and eventually gave His life for the world.  In short, He put his body at the disposal of God for the service of humanity-- seeing, listening, loving, touching, feeling, healing and preaching.
   
   That's what we are to do!  We are not to see ourselves as spectators in the arena of life, but as servants.
   
   As His body, He wants to live in us so that He can live through us.  Through our hands, He wants to reach out.  Through our feet, He wants to step out, and through our eyes, He wants to look out.  Through our life, he wants to speak out.

Earl's hands were the hands of Christ to reach out to the needy.

Earl's eyes were the eyes of Christ to see the hurt of human hearts.

Earl's ears were the ears of Christ to hear the cries of the distressed.

Earl's feet were the feet of Christ to rush to the side of the oppressed.

Earl's voice was the voice of Christ to speak His message of salvation and hope.

   This was my brother Earl-- just an ordinary man, with an extraordinary love for Christ, his family and his friends.

   Written by Bill Dingus, Earl's Youngest Brother
   Read at the memorial service August 26, 2014
   Reynoldsburg Baptist Church

Online Messages from Friends and Family of Earl J. Dingus


Earl was such a dear man. I remember how he was always so soft-spoken and patient. I'm sure you will all miss him deeply. Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

~ 

Kathy (Nunamaker) Carswell,

Pataskala,

Uncle Earl and Aunt Bonnie were two of the most Godly influences in my life. They opened their hearts and home to so many of us children, I could never thank them enough. Shortly before Uncle Earl's stroke, he called me on a Sunday afternoon to give me a final gift of truth and love. He was an amazing man who always was there in good times or bad. Look forward to seeing him again in our eternal home.

~ 

Deborah Kaye Hudson,

Tennessee

  God Bless/RIP,to ALL who served in WWII. The USA would NOT be as it is today."Fair winds and following seas". Thank YOU for your service,Dr.Dingus.. And Semper Fi.

~ 

Herb Guyer-Sharfenaker USMC,

Columbus, Ohio

 My sincere sympathy to Rev. Dingus children, wife, grandchildren and all others. Rev. Dingus a great person, loving and caring. He is now in his Heavenly eternal home in Heaven. Rest in peace.

~ 

Carolyn Schaefer,

Chillicothe

 Earl was a wonderful man. Prayers for the family. I have such fond memories of Earl. I am sorry for your loss.

~ 

Connie Moore,

Kingsport, Tennessee

We are sad to hear that Earl has passed away. Prayers for the family. There are so many wonderful memories of many years as our pastor. We will meet you again.

~ 

Bob and Shirley Mankin,

Chillicothe, Ohio 

Dr. Earl J. Dingus

It is with regret that this message be shared with you today, August 23 ...
Earl Dingus passed into eternal glory very early this morning, sometime after 1:30 am.  Although our hearts are filled with sadness at his loss, we can be joyful in the knowledge that he is with the Lord, has entered his heavenly home, among his family and friends that have preceded him -- "gathered unto his people" (Exodus 49:33).  

Earl suffered a stroke in May which lead to his hospitalization, entrance to a rehabilitation facility and subsequent release to his home.  Earl was not home very long when was re-admitted to the hospital for complications with diabetes and a subsequent infection.  Soon it was discovered that his gall bladder was not functioning;  this required surgery.  In July, Earl was moved to Echo Manor, an extended care facility.  During this time he was visited by friends and family who prayed for recovery.  This was not to be, as Earl continued to decline. 

Since Earl's life was totally surrendered to the Lord and in His service, he would want to exalt the Lord God and the Redeeming work of his Son.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; 

Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;

He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to them that are bound ...

To comfort all that mourn ...

To give unto them beauty for ashes, 

The oil of joy or mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness"

Isaiah 61:1,3

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

My soul shall be joyful in my God; 

For He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,

Isaiah 61:10

          "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, 

And the praises of the Lord, 

According to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, 

And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, 

Which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, 

And according to the multitude of his lovingkindness ..."

Isaiah 63:7

          "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, 

Nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, 

O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.

          Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, 

Those that remember thee in thy ways ..."    

Isaiah 64:4,5

Upon his retirement from the ministry, Earl was a member of Reynoldsburg Baptist Church.  The pastor will officiate a memorial service.  Cotner Funeral Home is working with the family.  

           

Potted Flowers on the Dingus Deck - August 2014

New Year ~ A Birthday

New Year

Since the beginning of time
The World has revolved on its axis
Water has run downhill to the sea
The trees of the forest have pointed to heaven.
Rain from the heaven has given  us blessings
And, God holds in reserve Streets of Gold!

But on January 1, God sent to the Ohly family
A wiggly little boy that brought great joy.
Were there times of trouble?
He is human -- not God
So, they accepted him and gave him the best
But, at times he failed the test.

God in His Love, will one day have him above.
He will sing in the heavenly choir.
Perhaps he'll be a tenor.
The days of being a winner will be over.

(At Present) For now he would sing 
And the spirit of others will ring.

So Happy Birthday dear Greg
Remember that God is in control.

Earl J Dingus, January 1, 2014