Ice-cream manager ran kitchen at school

9/10/2001

BRYAN - Bessie L. Dickinson, a housewife, parent, and former school kitchen manager who lived in Williams County and in Toledo, died of cancer Thursday in Community Hospitals of Williams County, Montpelier. She was 91.

Mrs. Dickinson moved to Toledo in 1958, when she married Jess Dickinson.

She had lived in Williams County until then, managing the former Dairy Cr me and the kitchen at Superior School, both in Montpelier, according to her daughter, Donna O'Brien.

“She also was a skilled wall paperer and worked at that for a while before she moved to Toledo,” Mrs. O'Brien said.

Mrs. Dickinson and her husband lived in Toledo until 1987, when his diabetes forced him to retire. Then they moved to Bryan and bought a house down the street from Mrs. O'Brien. Mr. Dickinson died in 1990.

During her years in Toledo, Mrs. Dickinson was not employed outside the home. She and her husband kept boats at Port Clinton, where they spent much time during summers.

Just after Mr. Dickinson retired, the couple sold their houseboat, bought a recreational vehicle, and toured California. Then they returned to Ohio to settle in Bryan.

Mrs. Dickinson entered the hospital in mid-July. A few days later she was transferred to its hospice unit, the Dilbert Center.

Surviving are her daughters, Donna O'Brien, Bette Beck, Pat Wiehe, and Cheryl Wagner; sons, Bennie and Donald Beck; 19 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren, six step grandchildren, seven step great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held today at 11 a.m. in Fountain Grove Cemetery, Bryan. The Rice Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The family requests tributes to the Community Hospitals of Williams County Hospice Program or to Lick Creek Church of the Brethren, Bryan.