Mary Alice Dick

Mary Alice Dick, age 94, of Fort Wayne departed this life on Sunday, December 27, 2020. She was the oldest of seven children born to John and Aileen Brand of Ashley, Indiana. At age five Mary Alice entered a one-room school, where she was placed in the third grade. She graduated from Ashley High School at age 15 as valedictorian and continued her education at Manchester College, and graduated three years later with a major in Music and minor in English. Her first teaching position was in Steuben Co., where she met and later married LaDean Dick in 1947. During the ensuing years she combined family and teaching until her retirement from Fort Wayne Community Schools in 1989. Meanwhile, she received her MS degree from St. Francis. Her career spanned 34 years during which she taught more than 3,000 middle and high school students. Mary Alice loved teaching and received recognition as an Outstanding Secondary Educator of America. In addition to local, state, and national education organizations, Mary Alice was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international organization of women educators. Devoted to the Lord, Mary Alice was an active member of the Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren. Surviving are three daughters, Dr. Anne J. (Norman) Stump of Indpls., Dr. Mary Jo (Doug) Smock of Bowling Green, IN, Cathy (Richard) Egler of Atlanta, IN; twin sons, Randall of Panacea, FL and Ronald (Sheila) Dick of Ft. Wayne; seven grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 72 years, LaDean B. Dick; brothers, Lowell Thomas (Tom) Brand, Jack H. Brand and Max D. Brand; and sisters, Marjorie E. Crill-Scott, Jean A. Bowman, and Janet I. Steury. Due to COVID-19, a private family service will be held before burial beside her husband in Fairfield Cemetery, DeKalb County. The service will be livestreamed at 12:30pm, January 4, 2021 on D.O. McComb and Sons Pine Valley Facebook page.