by ·Comments Off on Spring 2006 Newsletter: Margaret Dingler Winkles 1927-2005

I am saddened to report the death of our good friend Margaret Dingler Winkles on December 13, 2005. What can I say about Margaret? I first met Margaret in 1979. I was working on the Dingler genealogy and had sent letters to random Dingler addresses in Georgia. One of these letters was forwarded on to Margaret. Before long, she was on the road to Texas to see about these new cousins.

It was Margaret’s idea to have a family reunion. Frankly, I was skeptical at the time. We planned it for Vicksburg in the summer of 1980 and hoped for the best. The rest, as they say, is history. I grew to love Margaret and her family. And beyond that, I learned to appreciate her determination, her plain-spoken manner, her fierce love of family, and for lack of a better word, her just plain grit in the face of tragedies that would have crushed anyone else. Finally, it was Margaret’s insistence on having the first reunion that set in motion the chain of events that has allowed me to come to know all you wonderful people. Thank you, Margaret. We’ll not forget you.

by Terry Cowan

by ·Comments Off on Spring 2006 Newsletter: Report of 2005 Reunion

The 2005 reunion was a milestone in our family. The reunion was organized around the dedication of a marker for our Revolutionary War ancestor, Johannes Dingler. 89 family members gathered for the 2-day event in Madison, Georgia. A local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, in period dress, conducted the observance. Selma Smith led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Hubert Carroll gave the benediction. I gave a short talk about Johannes Dingler and his times. Calvin Faircloth led the closing prayer.

Go to the Dingler website (https://dingler-family.ladewig.com/) for a nice photo of the dedication. Hopefully, this can be a future pilgrimage site for the scattered Dingler clan. The marker is located in the Swords Cemetery (turn north off of Interstate 20 at Exit 121, then to Buckhead, then right on Park Mill Road, then left on Blue Springs Road through Swords Community to cemetery on left). Note that this cemetery is not the site of Johannes Dingler’s actual burial—that exact location has been lost for generations. Yet, this community cemetery is located within ½ mile of the old Dingler farm, and is well-maintained and accessible.

That afternoon, many of us visited the blacksmithing and glass-blowing studio of Charles and Christina Dingler. Many of us were fascinated to watch these skilled artisans at work. We appreciate your hospitality! Saturday night, we met at the James Madison Hall at the Madison Market Center. We enjoyed a catered banquet, followed by our annual business meeting.

by Terry Cowan

by ·Comments Off on Spring 2006 Newsletter: 2006 Dingler Reunion to be held in Huntsville, Alabama

July 21st and 22nd, 2006
Hampton Inn
4815 University Drive
Huntsville, AL 35816
(256) 830-9400

Make plans now to attend the 27th annual Dingler family reunion in Huntsville, AL. When making reservations, please specify that you are with the Dingler reunion to receive the special rate of $66.60 plus tax. The Hampton Inn provides a complimentary breakfast buffet, as well as a room that we can use as a hospitality room. We have a dining room reserved for our group at the Green Hills Grille, a nice restaurant located adjacent to the hotel. We will have our Saturday night meeting at the restaurant in conjunction with our meal. Selma Dingler Smith has made all the arrangements. Thank you, Selma!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Huntsville. We often drove through the city on our way to visit our son in college in Tennessee, but never had time to stop. Huntsville has a number of attractions. The U. S. Space and Rocket Center is a noted tourist destination. Yet the city offers a number of historical attractions, as well, including the Huntsville Depot and the Alabama Constitution Village. The Huntsville Botanical Garden and, of course, the Huntsville Speedway round out the area’s offerings. Check out Huntsville, Alabama online at http://www.huntsville.about.com.

Nearby Tuscumbia, Alabama—located 70 miles west—is the site of Helen Keller’s birthplace and home, the Belle Mont Mansion and, of all things, the Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard! Sallye and I have enjoyed stopping at Falls Mill, a working 1873 gristmill located in Belvidere, TN (35 miles northeast of Huntsville, just north of Hwy. 64 before Belvidere).

No specific activities are planned for this year’s reunion—just relaxation and time for lots of visiting. See you there!

by Terry Cowan

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If you are planning to attend the reunion, please let us know. You can either click the Add a Comment link at the bottom of this post or send an email to info@dingler-family.org and let us know who will be attending in your group, the city you live in, and which Dingler line (or lines) from which you descend.

Knowing who else will be at the reunion can be a big factor for some people in deciding whether to make the trip. So let us know, so we can help get people off the fence and at the reunion!

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The 2006 Dingler Family Reunion will be held the weekend of July 21 in Huntsville, Alabama. So mark your calendars and make your hotel reservations!

The reunion hotel is the Hampton Inn. They are holding 30 rooms for us for Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22. Room types and nightly rates are as follows:

  • 17 Double/Double: $66.60
  • 8 Standard King at $71.10
  • 5 Queen/Queen at $72.90.

To reserve your room, call the hotel directly (256-830-9400) and tell them you are with the Dingler Reunion so that you get the discounted rate. For more info about the Huntsville Hampton Inn, check out their web site. There is no hospitality room available, but because we receive a free room for reserving more than 20, we have asked for a Queen/Queen room which we can use for that function. The hotel is located at 4815 University Drive, Huntsville, AL 35816. (Hotel on Google Maps)

Some details are still being worked out, but you can be sure they will be posted here as soon as we know more. And a big thanks to Selma Smith for her work in making these arrangements for us!

Some info about our host city… Huntsville, a city of 160,000, was the birthplace of Alabama in 1819 and is America’s Space Capital. Here are some of Huntsville’s attractions:

For more information, see the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau web site.

Now you know the dates and the place, so pick up that phone and make your reservations. Whether you’re a regular or a first timer, we expect to see all of you in Huntsville!