E. Philip Dick, 65, peacefully passed away April 4, 2008, in 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 June 19, 1965, and received a master's degree from Saint 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.
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, Warsaw; a son, Matthew P. (and spouse Nicole) Dick, 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 a niece, Natalie Marie Dick.
A graveside service was Monday at Oakwood Cemetery. A memorial celebration service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, Winona Lake, with Pastor Bruce Barlow officiating.
Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials to the E. Philip Dick Memorial Endowment to benefit student athletes in care of Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
Condolences may be sent to www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
