Donald Dinwiddie

Donald J. Dinwiddie, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005, at the Lutheran Home.

Mr. Dinwiddie was employed by the state of Missouri as a supervisor for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for 24 years, retiring in 1985. He was a graduate of Central Methodist College at Fayette, Mo.

He was born March 30, 1923, at Higbee, Mo., son of Archie Ernest and Irma Lynch Dinwiddie. He married Irma Jean Amick March 12, 1950, at Jacksonville, Mo.

Mr. Dinwiddie served as a technical sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He served in the European Theater with the 303rd Bomber Group. He was flying his ninth mission when he was shot down over Belgium; he was a prisoner of war for more than a year. He was awarded the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and an Air Medal.

He was a member of First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Cape Girardeau, where he had been an elder and deacon. He was a very devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was also an avid fisherman.

Survivors include his wife, Irma Jean Dinwiddie of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Donna Jean Irwin and husband Terry of Gordonville, Kim Diane Gillam and husband Jack of Salina, Kan.; two brothers, Tyre Allen Dinwiddie of Boonville, Mo., Archie Ernest Dinwiddie Jr. of Liberty, Mo.; four grandchildren, Marcus Stephens of Evanston, Ill., Brooke Pobst and husband Chris of Jackson, Maggie Gillam and John Gillam of Salina; two stepgranddaughters, Heather Shirrell and husband Nathen of Advance, Mo, Lindsay Irwin of Chaffee, Mo.; and two great-stepgranddaughters, Eliza and Ella Shirrell of Advance.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jack Dinwiddie; and a sister, Susie Griggs.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, with the Rev. Rodger Kiepe officiating. Interment will be at Cape County Memorial Park.

The family requests memorials be made to the First Christian Church Building Fund or the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.