Fidelia Rita Dickinson

Dr. Fidelia R. Dickinson, age 92, died peacefully at home on December 2, 2016. She is survived by 4 nieces and 5 nephews and their families. Fidelia was born in St. Louis to Edward L. Fleming and Fidelia L. Ganahl. The family lived in Glendale, California where Mr. Fleming was a cement contractor. After attending grammar school at Holy Family, she attended Immaculate Heart High School in Hollywood graduating in 1942.. In August 1942, she entered the Order of the Immaculate Heart Sisters in Hollywood and served as a teacher at Los Angeles Schools for 16 years having earned a B.A. and M.A. at Immaculate Heart College.

In 1958, she left the order to reenter civilian life. She entered UCLA to obtain a doctorate and it was there she met and married John W. Dickinson. Together they moved to Wisconsin where John taught at Marquette University while she took a position with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for two years. They moved back to California where John taught at San Diego State University while she took a job at the University of San Diego because SDSU had a nepotism clause. Eventually that clause gave way to one of Affirmative Action, and she was able to work at San Diego State University as a librarian, then as an administrator under Dr. Louis Kenney and finally as an instructor in the English Department for the next 8 years.

During the last few years, she hosted over 100 native Chinese from all parts of China seeking advanced degrees in the US. This was in memory of her eldest brother, Major Robert E. Fleming who disappeared in southern China during WW II. She had a good and productive life and enjoyed her relatives, friends and colleagues.

Services will be held at St. Didacus Catholic Church in San Diego at 11:00 am, December 15, 2016, with viewing the evening before from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Goodbody Mortuary, 5027 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego.

Arrangements under the direction of Goodbody Mortuary, San Diego, CA.