Delphia Dennis

Delphia “Debbie” Dennis, 78, joined her family in heaven on Monday, December 9, 2013. She was the youngest child of Holland Dennis and Permilla Hotelling. Her older brothers and sisters were Gordon, Buenta, Florence, Gilbert and Mamie.

Debbie loved her family and told wonderful stories of growing up with her nephews and nieces as playmates. She took pride in the Christian hospitality and service that was a family tradition.

Debbie was mostly raised in the Washington, Idaho area as her father who was a blacksmith worked for the railroad.

After graduating from a secretarial school, she moved to the Springfield area with her mother in the 1950’s. They were very active in Assembly of God services, missions and Bible School.

She married Johnnie Lee Daily of Fair Grove, Missouri. Debbie was very busy working at the Gospel Publishing House, being active at Bethel Assembly of God Church and raising her daughters, Dennise and Sybil.

Debbie was an active Camp Fire Girl leader, and supported her daughters in all of their school activities. She valued further education and began taking part-time classes at SMSU. In 1978, she became a Certified Professional Secretary.

In 1979, Debbie moved to the Seattle, Washington area to be near her family.

In 1990, she graduated from City University in Redmond, Washington, with a BS degree in Business. During that time she was very active in Professional Secretaries International, and Business and Professional Women. She also taught ESL classes. She opened her home to young business women from Japan who came for education and “westernization.”

Debbie had a heart for outreach with her quilting and knitting skills, teaching knitting at women’s shelters. At times she would also cook for the shelters as well. Debbie always worried that the food she prepared would be “good enough and special enough” for those guests.

In 1994, she received recognition for “Outstanding Participation in the Community Outreach” effort with her employer, Boeing.

Debbie loved working with her “young men,” the engineers of her teams. It meant a lot to her to be part of a collaborative group for such a large project.

In June of 1995, she retired after 11 years at Boeing. She was then able to participate in two major mission trips, one to teach Bible school in Jamaica and the other to work at Christian radio station KICY in Nome, Alaska.

In 1999, Debbie moved back to Springfield. She remained active in Business and Professional Women and helped to build the Ozark Mountain Knitting Guild.

She continued to love the hospitality of opening her home to friends, groups and family members.

Debbie became very active at Macedonia Baptist Church and enjoyed being in their Senior Choir, PEP ministry and quilting guild.

Even after she moved to The Gardens, Debbie continued to serve God by reaching out and welcome new residents as they settled in their new home.

Delphia Dennis is much loved by family and friends and we have lost a wonderful Christian leader.

She is survived by her daughter Dennise Ridinger and her husband Steve; daughter Sybil Lindsey and fiancé Ken Clayton; grandson Geoffrey Ridinger and wife Sarah, and 3 great granddaughters all of Springfield; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday December 11, 2013 with funeral services at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday December 12, 2013, all in Herman Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut Street in Springfield, MO. Rich Jenkins will be officiating. Burial will be at Ozark Cemetery.

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.