Dixie Dellinger

Dixie May Gibbs Dellinger, 84, of 1110 Sunset Rd. died February 17, 2014 at her residence. She was born on November 13, 1929 in Hendersonville, NC, a daughter of the late James Theodore and Lucretia Saltz Gibbs. Mrs. Dellinger attended Brevard College and Gaston College and was a graduate of UNCC with a Master of Arts in English. She was a retired English teacher having taught at Burns High School and Cleveland Community College and was a member of North Carolina English Teachers Association. Dixie was an avid reader, writer, and thinker. She was a reviewer of books for various publications including The Quarterly, a publication of the National Writing Project. She was the author of the book Out of the Heart: How to Design Writing Assignments for High School Courses (Writing Teachers at Work - National Writing Project). Dixie was a teacher consultant for the National Writing Project for UNCC, and was creator of the "CRISP" Method of Style Revision which has been demonstrated at various conferences including the 2011 Advanced Placement Summer Institute at the University of California in Riverside, CA. "A Tribute to East Flat Rock School," a personal reflection article of Dixie's, was published in the Hendersonville Times-News on May 24, 1993. Mrs. Dellinger inspired the creation of the Dellinger Life-time Achievement Award from the North Carolina English Teachers Association which was derived from the singular service of Dixie Dellinger.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Fred Owen Dellinger, Sr., and son-in-law, Odell Wilcox, Jr.

She is survived by her three children, Fred O. Dellinger, Jr., of Moravian Falls, NC, Ann D. Harrelson (James) of Cherryville, and Joy D. Wilcox of Asheville; six grandchildren, Nathan Harrelson of Cherryville, Russell Harrelson (Amanda) of Vale, Amanda Dayvault (Max) of Landis, Seth Harrelson (Meggan) of Cherryville, Elizabeth Dellinger (Sharlena Thomas) of Asheville and James Gibbs Dellinger (Melissa) of Winston Salem; and three great grandchildren Dayne and Parker Harrelson and Caroline Dayvault.

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 21, 2014 at 12:00 PM at St. John's Lutheran Church with Rev. Dr. Eric Childers officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10:30 to 11:45 AM in the church Parlor prior to the service and other times at the home of Ann & James Harrelson at 716 Flint Hill Rd., Cherryville.

Memorials may be made to Dawn Bible Students Association, 199 Railroad Ave., East Rutherford, NJ 07073.