David Russell Dickie

DAVID RUSSELL DICKIE was the eldest son of David J. and Ina Dickie. He was born on May 12, 1935 in Alameda, California.

In 1937 the family moved to Matoon, Illinois where David J. Dickie was employed at Atlas Imperial Diesel Co. In 1941 they returned to California and rented a house in Alameda where David attended Kindergarten. This house was only 4-5 blocks from the bay which was a concern for Ina because of the curiosity of this young boy. Later in 1941 they moved to 8691 Almond Lane, Castro Valley, Ca.

where David attended Castro Valley Grammar School.

David was in the Boy Scouts and earned the awards of 1st. Class Scout and Star Scout. He spent two summers working at the Diamond O. Scout Camp near Yosemite.

In addition, at age 11. David had his first paper route with the Oakland Post Enquirer. At age 13 to ease the long distances of the four-mile route, which took him up and down many hills to service his 150 customers, he was allowed to buy a motorbike. The bike had been modified with the engine on the front bar of the frame and had a long belt from the engine to the back wheel. It performed well until a taxi backed out in front of David and he flew onto the roof of the cab. He sustained no injuries, but the bike's front wheel and forks were beyond repair. It was a perfect excuse for a new Cushman Motor scooter. The accident did serve a purpose as David recalls it was at that point that his mechanical interests peaked as he replaced the forks on the motorbike with telescoping front forks.

During his junior and senior year in high school David worked in the afternoons at Gurney Equipment Company as a small engine mechanic.

In June of 1953, David graduated from Hayward High School with a National Honor Scholarship and also a Fine Arts Scholarship. While there he performed in the Mikado, as the Mikado.

In August of 1953, David joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was on a Relief Lightship anchored both at Blunts Reef (20 miles south of Eureka, CA) and on location 10 miles off the San Francisco coast.

In 1954 he was sent to Engineman School in Groton, Conn. A major hurricane hit the East coast.

While on a search and rescue mission David said, "a gust of wind lifted and blew me along a coastal dune area 50 to 60 feet and I landed safely in a grassy area".

In 1956 while still in the Coast Guard DAVID was transferred to East Brothers Light Station in the San Francisco Bay and served as officer in charge.David was discharged in 1957 and began his studies at San Francisco City College while working part-time at Common Auto Supply in So. San Francisco. During that time, he attended First Covenant Church in San Francisco and met his wife to be Betty Jo Christian and after an exciting courtship, David and Betty Jo were married there.

After completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology at San Francisco College in 1960, David started to work at Sandia Corp. in Livermore, CA.

In addition to being involved in of Intervarsity Christian fellowship, David was a Navigator in College and memorized countless verses of scripture which gave him great comfort and which he shared with others often.

In 1965, David, Betty Jo and family moved to Fresno, CA where David began teaching at Fresno City College in the Industrial Technology Division. During his time at FCC David and family took a one-year leave of absence and traveled to Dhahran, Saudia Arabia where DAVID taught at the University of Petroleum and Minerals in the Mechanical Engineering Dept.

After returning to Fresno, David continued teaching at FCC while doing some part time teaching at California State University Fresno, and Fresno Pacific College. David retired from teaching in 1996 and worked as a Chaplain in Avenal State Prison.

David was well-loved and encouraged many in their walk with Jesus. David had a wonderful voice and often sang solos at church.

David is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Dickie, and their three children, Susan Dickie George (spouse Gary), David A. Dickie (spouse Carol) and Paul Christian Dickie (spouse Claudia), their eight grandchildren, Tristan Ringhofer, Derek George, Danielle Dickie, Chris Dickie, Nathan Dickie, Jason Dickie, Matthew Dickie and Johanna Dickie, as well as 6 great-grandchildren, Ezra RInghofer, Ezekiel Ringhofer, Spencer George, Lucas Dickie, Sutton George and baby in the making Dickie.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: September 30, 2023, 10:30 am North Fresno Mennonite Brethren Church

5724 N. Fresno St., Fresno, CA 93720

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Dickie family.