The following obituary appears in today’s Warsaw (IN) Times-Union:
WINONA LAKE, IN – E. Philip Dick, 65, peacefully passed away April 4, 2008, at Goshen Hospital after a very courageous two-year battle with kidney cancer.
He was born March 30, 1943, to Paul E. and Esther Hostetler Dick and grew up in Winchester, Va. On June 19, 1965, he married Rebecca “Becky” Joanne Crawford, who survives.
A resident of Kosciusko County for the past 43 years, he graduated from Handley High School, Winchester, Va., and moved to Warsaw in 1961 to attend Grace College. He graduated from Grace College and married his college sweetheart, Rebecca J. Crawford. He received his master’s degree from St. Francis University.
He began his teaching and coaching career at North Webster Junior/Senior High School in 1965. He taught English and later K-8 physical education. Through the years, he coached baseball, track, basketball and was instrumental in the beginning of the Little League community program in North Webster.
He enjoyed playing and coaching various Warsaw City League softball teams. In 1981, he assumed the position of athletic director at Grace College, where he successfully coached women’s softball, having several nationally-ranked teams.
In the mid 90s, he began his career with Chore Time Brock, Milford, later going with Royal Outdoor Products, Milford. He enjoyed traveling his sales territory, which included the East Coast and southern area where he had grown up.
Being a member of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, his Christian testimony was evident in his daily walk. His concern for others was very obvious in the creative ways he consistently and quietly reached out to help others. He also enjoyed his classic cars and being a part of the Cruisin’ Hoosiers car club.
Also surviving are a daughter, Michelle R. (and spouse Jerry) Yeager; a son, Matthew P. (and spouse Nicole) Dick, all of Warsaw; five dearly-loved grandchildren: Madison, Kensington, Jeremy, Andrew and Luke; a brother, Richard (and spouse Teresa) Dick, Syracuse; a niece, Ashley (and spouse Josh) Fitzgerald, Warsaw; and two great-nieces, Brooklyn and Avery. He was preceded in death by his parents and his niece, Natalie Marie Dick.
A graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Oakwood Cemetery. A memorial celebration service will be April 14 at 7 p.m. at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, Winona Lake, with Pastor Bruce Barlow officiating.
Calling will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
Memorials to the E. Philip Dick Memorial Endowment to benefit student athletes in care of Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market Street, Warsaw, IN 46580.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.