Wanda Kay Dinkle

Wanda Kay Dinkle (nee Monroe), born on June 29, 1941, in Ridgely, MD to Frederic, Jr and Maude Morris Monroe, died January 21, 2024, in Easton, MD. Kay, as she was known from infancy, was a member of the class of 1959 at Greensboro High School, the last class to graduate before it closed. She was an eastern shore of Maryland girl from the top of her head to the tip of her toes and never lived anywhere else except for a brief time when she worked in a clerical position for the FBI and later as a PBX operator and secretary for National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Assn, both in Washington, DC. While working there, she met the love of her life, Marvin Alan Dinkle and they were married on April 8, 1960, in Camp Springs MD. They lived in Wheaton, MD for a short period, but Kay soon convinced Marvin to relocate to her beloved eastern shore. On the very day that John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 they signed the papers to purchase a home in Denton, MD which she and Marvin lived in together until his death in 2013 and that she continued living in for the remainder of her life. They also had a home on the beach at Prime Hook, DE that she inherited from her parents. Countless happy memories were made in that little place. Kay’s persnickety sister is fond of telling people that Kay, in that eastern shore way of speaking, often told her that she (Kay) was not as “particular” about things as her big sister. Helping or simply spending time with her family and friends was far more important to her than a spotlessly clean house, organized files, having food on the table at a certain time, or owning the latest, greatest and newest product available. She was a kind and gentle woman who suffered more over a hurt animal than the animal did. Until her health issues kept her from doing it, she made regular visits to people in nursing homes, often with a bag of homemade cookies in her hand. For years, she and her friend, Rebecca Wade, spent several days making Christmas goodies and delivering them to elderly folks every holiday season. She was always willing to help anyone she could in any way she could. Kay was a sports fan if there ever was one. Her favorite sport was football and baseball was a close second, but she was also a Nascar fan. She could be seen avidly watching any sport on TV from Alpine skiing to Zorb football. The last full day of her life, she was able to watch her precious Baltimore Ravens win their game against the Houston Texans. Kay was a member of the Greensboro Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. When her children were young, she worked part-time at several restaurants so she could be at home when her boys came home from school. Later, she worked at the Royal Farm store in Denton and also kept the books at Caroline Auto Body, her husband’s business. She was the last Monroe to work in the family business known as Greensboro Packers and did a lot of jobs there from helping to make scrapple and sausage to keeping the books, to waiting on customers when a retail shop became a part of the business. One of the joys of her life was traveling with Jo Ann, Bobby, Becca, and George. They made sure they took a trip every year and they laughed their way across much of the U.S. and on some cruise ships. Kay is survived by her sons David A. and Jeanne Dinkle of Ocala, FL, Robert B. Dinkle and Jenny Chou of Ellicott City, MD, two grandchildren, Michael (April) Dinkle and Lisa Bowman (Paul), six great-grandchildren, Nick, Karalynn, Kallen and Arthur Dinkle, and Luke and Beau Bowman. She is also survived by one sister, Constance Monroe Jeglum of Walla Walla, WA. Services will be at the Fleegle and Helfenbein funeral home in Greensboro, MD on January 29, 2024, beginning at 12:00pm. Kay will be interred at the Greensboro Cemetery following the service. A reception is planned at the Greensboro Volunteer Fire Company after the interment.

Wanda Kay Dinkle

June 29, 1941 - January 21, 2024