Dean graduated as salutatorian from Huntington High School in 1946 and was a member of the 1945 Final Four basketball team. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Physical Education in 1950, followed by his Master of Science degree in Education in 1955, and Superintendent’s License in 1959, all from Indiana University. Beginning in 1950, Dean’s 40-year career in education was spent entirely at Lincoln Elementary School as teacher, coach, and principal. It was briefly interrupted when he served in the United States Army in 1951-53 during the Korean War. He was especially proud to have coached the Lincoln Presidents to three county championships in basketball: 1954, 1957, and 1961. He was an avid IU, Cubs, and Colts fan and was actively involved in the community his entire life. He was well known for serving 60 years as the official scorekeeper for Huntington Vikings boys’ basketball, retiring in March at the end of the 2013-14 season. He was inducted into the Huntington County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. Dean was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s First Community Church where he had served as deacon, elder, and Board President and Secretary. He also had been a 40-year member of Exchange Club, serving as President, Secretary, and Youth Committee Chairman. Dean was also a member of the YMCA Board and United Way Budget Committee. Through the years, Dean coached in several capacities including PAL baseball, Huntington County baseball, Horace Mann Elementary basketball, Kim League basketball, and Salvation Army basketball; most involving his grandchildren. Dean was a member of the Indiana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals in which he was honored as 4th District Elementary Principal of the Year in 1989. He also belonged to the National Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals, 4th District Elementary Principals’ Association, and Huntington County Principals’ Association, all in which he held many offices. Most recently, he was a member of the Indiana and Huntington Retired Teachers’ Association and served as Associate Director of Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle.
Dean was born November 13, 1927, in Huntington, the son of Burton and Virginia (Diffendorfer) Stephan.
He was united in marriage to Lois Wort on June 5, 1955, at Bethel Methodist Church in Albany, Indiana. His wife of 59 years survives.
Additional survivors include three daughters, Sally (David) Morrison, Sandy Stephan, Sherry (Kirk) Baker, all of Huntington; one sister, Anne (Dean) Stonebraker of Huntington; one sister-in-law, Myra (Phil) Jones of Troy, Michigan; five grandchildren, Justin (Nicole) Baker of Huntington, Megan (Phil) Engle of Roanoke, Aaron (Jessica) Baker of West Lafayette, Lauren Baker of Huntington, and Drew Morrison of Fort Wayne. He also leaves behind six great-grandchildren; Addison, Calvin, and Evelyn Baker of West Lafayette and Kennedy, Maddox, and Charley Baker, Huntington.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Burton and Virginia Stephan.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the St. Peter’s First Community Church, 206 Etna Ave., Huntington.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Pastor Richard Strick officiating. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service.
Interment will take place at the St. Peter’s First Community Church Cemetery in Huntington.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Peter’s First Community Church sent in care to Myers Funeral Home, 2901 Guilford St., Huntington, IN 46750
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