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- Over the course of his life, Dewey Van Dinter was a standout high school and collegiate football player and served as a teacher, mentor, coach and official.
DuWayne Arnold "Dewey" Van Dinter, 74, died March 19 at his home in Hoquiam.
Van Dinter, the son of Willard and Gladys (Sachs) Van Dinter, was born Sept. 5, 1937 in Kelso. A 1955 graduate of Kelso, he was a standout football player, which earned him a scholarship to Eastern Washington University.
A four-year letterman at Eastern, Van Dinter made his presence known on the gridiron as a freshman halfback. A Oct. 24, 1955 story in the Spokane Daily Chronicle told of Van Dinter's exploits against Pacific Lutheran University.
"The Savages, led by Dewey Van Dinter, finally jelled for their first score in the third stanza when Van Dinter passed to Ron Sperber who caught the aerial in the end zone.
"An onside kickoff that Eastern's Leo Chandler covered on the Lutheran 45 set up the final Savage score. On the first play from scrimmage, Leroy Faling pitched to Van Dinter who got clear 30 yards from the goal line and tallied."
He also earned kudos in a Nov. 18, 1957 Daily Chronicle story, "Whits lose game but save goal posts." It was noted that Van Dinter scored on an 11-yard run in the third quarter for a 9-6 victory over Whitworth. He finished his junior season fourth in the Evergreen Conference in scoring with 37 points on six touchdowns and a conversion.
After graduation in 1959, he taught and coached football at Coulee Dam High in eastern Washington for two years before moving to Aberdeen in 1961. Van Dinter taught and coached football, wrestling and softball during a 28-year career at Aberdeen's Weatherwax High. He served as a physical education instructor and coached the running backs on the football team.
In addition to his teaching and coaching exploits, Van Dinter served as a wrestling official for many years at the local, regional and state levels. In 1993, he received the Official's Award for his contributions to the sport from the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association.
Van Dinter was also honored for his lifetime of athletic greatness when he was named to the Lower Columbia Area All-Century Team during a ceremony held at the Cowlitz County Expo Center in 2009.
He was a member of the Aberdeen Elks and Eagles clubs, and served as Elks Lodge President in 1986 along with Eagles Aerie secretary for numerous years. In retirement, Van Dinter earned a real estate license and was an agent for 1st Harbor Property Management in Aberdeen. In his spare time, he enjoyed spending time with family, golfing, playing softball and trips to the area casinos.
Van Dinter married Kelso's Janet Mitchell in 1956, and had sons David and Scott, and daughter Lesli. They later divorced. He married Nancy Windsnes in 1988, and she survives him at home.
Van Dinter is also survived by son Scott Van Dinter of Ramona, Cal., daughter Lesli (Alan) Lotton of Olympia, step-daughters Tina, Tara, and Tanya, all of Aberdeen, brothers Daryl (Debi) Van Dinter of Graham, Wash., Raymon (Jill) Van Dinter of Woodland, and sister Dorothy Johnson of Longview. He also leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Van Dinter and his wife also raised grandchildren Chloe and Cruise for the last eight years.
He was preceded in death by his son, David, brother, William, and sister, Elaine.
A celebration of his life will be held at 1 today at the Aberdeen Eagles, 200 West Market St. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Relay for Life Cancer Walk.
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1937 - 2012 (74 years)
