James Francis Dibble, 83, of 8 Old Colony Road, North Stonington, passed away early Tuesday morning, July 18th, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sharon Linstruth Dibble, his 3 children, Michael Dibble and his inamorata Elizabeth Preli of North Stonington; Amy Daley and her husband Bill of Norwich, and Jane Novak and her husband Len of Pawcatuck. He will also be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Kaeli and Emily Novak and Caitlin and Liam Daley. He is also survived by his sisters Isabelle Dibble and Anne Barker; a brother, Edward Dibble and his wife Ann, a sister and Brother-in-law J.D. and Linda Runnels. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Willis A. and Isabelle Furey Dibble, 2 brothers, Willis and Robert as well as a sister Mary Riley.
Born March 27, 1923 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, he attended Parochial schools and graduated from Chaminade High School in 1942.
Mr. Dibble then entered the U.S. Army in 1943 where he attained the rank of Technical Sergeant. He worked briefly on the construction of the AlCan highway before seeing duty in the western Pacific.
After his World War II service, he attended Bergen Junior College before graduating from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science degree.
He married the former Sharon Marie Linstruth on August 15, 1953 in Croghan, NY.
Mr. Dibble was employed by Republic Aviation in Farmingdale NY until 1962, then accepting a position at Electric Boat in Groton.
He will be remembered as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan until the treachery of Walter O’Malley forced him to settle for rooting for the Yankees. He was also an accomplished gardener, reader and crossword enthusiast/ He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. He was a communicant at St. Thomas More, North Stonington.
His family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Thursday from 6-8pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas More Church, Mystic Road, North Stonington on Friday at 11am. The family will gather privately at a later date for burial with military honors at Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic.
Donations in his memory may be made to St. Thomas More Church, 87 Mystic Road, No. Stonington or to the American Heart Association, 5 Brrokside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
To send his family a message of remembrance/condolence, please click the link below.