Dr. John M. Dillingham

Dr. John M. Dillingham, age 72, of Coleman, died Saturday, May 19, 2018, in the Coleman County Medical Center.  Funeral service will be held 2:00 p. m. Tuesday, May 22, at the First United Methodist Church, 500 W. Liveoak Street, Coleman, with Rev. Brad Slaten officiating and assisted by Rev. Wayne Lewis.   Private interment will be in the Coleman City Cemetery.  Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home, Coleman.

He was born John Michael Dillingham on May 23, 1945, in Santa Anna, Texas, a son of Jack Pershing Dillingham and Dorothy Louise Akins Dillingham.  He grew up in Coleman County in Shields and graduated from Santa Anna High School in 1963.  He attended Tarleton State University for two years, where he served in the ROTC.  He transferred to Texas A & M University where he received his Bachelor of Science in agricultural education.  John received his Master’s degree in adult education from Texas Tech and holds a doctoral degree from Texas A & M University.

On December 23, 1967, John married Diann Dunn at the First Presbyterian Church in Coleman.  Following their marriage, they lived in Inkster, North Dakota, for one year before moving to Shallowater for two years, where John taught agriculture in high school.  He then taught at Lampasas ISD for seven years.  After earning his doctorate at A & M, he taught at that university and then moved to Texas Tech where he taught for eleven years.  He taught at Southwest Texas State University for three years, and was the career and technology director for Alice ISD for several years before returning to Texas A & M as the Coordinator of IMS (Instructional Material Service) until retiring in 2005 as a full professor. John was awarded outstanding alumni in the agricultural department at Texas A & M.   Following retirement, John and Diann moved to Bangs for two years before moving to Diann’s family farm in Coleman County where they enjoyed several years of retirement.

While living in Shallowater, Lampasas and College Station, they were members of Baptist churches.  In Alice they were members of First United Methodist Church and after returning to Coleman, they joined First United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Diann Dillingham of Coleman; a daughter, Sandi Buchanan and husband Matt of Lubbock; a son, John Mark Dillingham of Pearland; four grandchildren, Jade Buchanon, Mattisan Marshall, Conlan Buchanan and Kara Dillingham; four great-grandchildren, Bella Buchanan, Paisley Marshall, Piper Marshall and Deacon Marshall.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jack Dillingham.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 21, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, Coleman, and immediately following the service at First United Methodist Church.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Coleman County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Michelle Sexton, 909 Galveston Street, Coleman, Texas 76834, Coleman Senior Center, 916 S. Concho Street, Coleman, Texas 76834 or The Association of Former Students of Texas A & M University, 505 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840.

Please leave remembrances and online condolences for the family at www.livingmemorials.com.