Sidney Ray Dingess

After a long illness, Sidney Ray Dingess, 81 of Chapmanville, WV passed from this Earth on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Pikeville Medical Center. He was born on April 20, 1937 in Chapmanville, WV, to Woodrow Dingess and Stella (Beckett) Dingess-Widener.

Sid was raised by his maternal grandparents, Martha (Queen) and John Beckett. He told many stories of how he and Granny would work together, tending the garden, digging coal, canning and storing food, and tending livestock. As a small boy, Granny would often take him with her when she would go to other ladies' houses to cook, clean and do laundry. He would play with their children while Granny worked. Once he was old enough, he worked at “The Barker Dairy” to help earn money. His paternal grandparents were John and Susan Dingess.

Sid worked and played at many things between then and when he met his wife, Kathleen. From the stories he told, we know he drove coal trucks, welded, learned to work on cars, ran a salvage/junk yard, tore down coal tipples, became Constable, re-built mine cars and made and “ran shine”. He was mostly self-taught and life-learned. Sid loved to build, rebuild and collect equipment, cars and tools. His sons recall many fishing trips on the New River. After he retired from the WV Department of Highways as a foreman, Sid could often be found sitting on the front porch visiting with friends and neighbors. Nearly every summer, he would plant tomatoes and watermelons.

When he was only 16 years old, he became a father for the first time to a daughter named after his mother, Stella. At some point in the mid to late 1960's, he met Kathleen, who had 5 children of her own. Together they had another daughter, Kathy.

Sid often credited Kathleen with “Saving my Life.” He helped her raise those 5 children. She helped him with his, and together they managed to create a family by working hard and loving each other for nearly 50 years.

Sidney is preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, his beloved wife, Kathleen, 3 daughters, Stella “Tink” Hunter, Kay Corwin, Kimberly Ball, one son, Michael Dalton, one granddaughter, Sharon Paula Dingess, a brother, James Dingess, a nephew, Ralph Dingess and a sister, Carol Widener-Williams.

Left to mourn his loss and celebrate his life are, one brother, Robert “Buddy” Widener, two sons, Roger (Kim) Dalton, Steve (Vivian) Dalton and one daughter Kathy (Les) Akers. 12 grandchildren, Shawn Collins, Taunya Hager, Lisa Richards, David Corwin, Stacy Rodriguez, Jodi Adkins, Jeni Thompson, Emile Dalton, Grant Dalton, Danielle Kolovich, Chelsea Brooks, and Chloe Hensley; 21 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; and a host of other family, friends, neighbors, nieces and nephews.

Please come help celebrate his life at Freeman Funeral Home in Chapmanville, WV. The Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, and the Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 11:00am, with Rev. Rick Adkins officiating. There will be a short graveside service at the Adkins Memory Cemetery in Harts, WV. Following the funeral services, the family would like to invite you to have refreshments and fellowship at the Shining Light United Baptist Church on Crawley Creek.

A special thanks to Dr. Toparis, Logan Regional Medical Center, Pikeville Medical Center and Larry Hensley.

Freeman Funeral Home, Chapmanville, WV is in charge of arrangements.