COLUMBUS
Paul Newton Dinkins passed away on August 21, 2017, under the care of Our Hospice of South Central Indiana at Four Seasons Health Center.
Paul was born December 25, 1919, in Columbus, Indiana, and was the son of Chester Newton and Mary (Schulz) Dinkins. Paul graduated from Columbus High School in 1938. He married Dotty L. Dinkins on October 10, 1942.
He was employed at Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company from 1938 until 1985. He held positions of President and Director from 1964 to 1975 and Chairman and Director from 1975 to 1977. He retired in 1985 after serving as Consultant and Director for 8 years.
Paul served in the United States Navy from 1941 to 1945 at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago and in the South Pacific.
Paul was President of Indiana Bankers Association 1972-1973 and served on the Advisory Council of the American Bankers Association. He was on the Columbus City Council 1959-1963 and the Columbus City Planning Commission 1959- 1963. He was a trustee of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission and on the Advisory Board of Columbus IUPUI. He was on the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce where he served as Treasurer in 1979. He was a founding member of Columbus Growth where he served as President. He was a founding member of the Columbus Economic Development Commission, serving as its Chairman, and was a founding member of the William R. Laws Foundation. He served as Campaign Chairman for United Way and also for the Red Cross. He was a life member of the Robert Morris Association and President of Kiwanis in 1959.
Paul was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church where he was Lay Delegate to the South Indiana Methodist Conference in 1981 and 1996. He was a member of the South Indiana Conference Council of Finance and Administration.
Paul was proud of his family and his community and enjoyed traveling. He and Dotty made several trips to Europe where he continued his hobby of genealogy. He especially enjoyed family gatherings at Father’s Day and Christmas.
Paul is survived by Dotty, his wife of 75 years, and sons, Doug (Sharen Clark) Dinkins of Holland, MI, Greg (Maryann Berkowski) Dinkins of Columbus, IN, and Philip (Ed Lally) Dinkins of St Petersburg, FL; grandson, Scott (Teresa) Dinkins of Wabash, IN; granddaughter, Kim (Tim) Ballew of Houston, TX; and great-grandchildren, Andrew, Alex and Addison Dinkins and Zackary Ballew.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Thelma Nolting and Ruth Harrison.
Arrangements for a memorial service at Four Seasons Chapel are pending.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with Paul’s family at jewellrittmanfamily.com.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to either the Columbus Foundation for Youth, 405 Hope Avenue, Columbus, IN 47201; Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 17th Street, Columbus, IN 47201; or Love Chapel Center, 311 Center Street, Columbus, IN 47201.
