Obituary of Dortheda Dell Tingler

Dortheda Idel “Dell” Collins Turner Tingler was a wife (of Wilbur Henry “Bill” Turner and later wife of Harlan Tingler), mother of three (Diane Lynn Turner Stead, Steven Craig Turner and Joan Colleen Turner Griffith), grandmother of three (Jenee Diane Stead Chromy, Megan Spring Griffith and Ryan Richard Stead) and great grandmother of three (Jacob Ryan Chromy, Kyle Richard Chromy and Zane Weylin Stead).  She lived a very full life and passed away at the age of 94 on December 19, 2021 in Thousand Oaks, California after living the majority of her life in Los Angeles.

Dell was born in Texas and grew up in Oklahoma with her sister, Dolores.  They were not related by blood but were adopted at the same time by her mother Josephine Kaiser Collins and father George Collins.

At the age of 17 Dell married Bill who she met at a sorority dance at the University of Texas.  She often said she had a “MRS” (as in missus) degree.  Bill was soon off to Burma, India and China in the Army Air Forces during WWII.  They enjoyed a colorful life in California with many friends.  Bill passed away when he was 54 and Dell continued to live in the same house they had bought in the ‘50s.

She later married Harlan Tingler who shared her passion for travel and they ventured to several different countries.   Some of those were by means of the bullet train in Japan, taking the Queen Elizabeth QEII ocean liner to Europe and riding the Concorde supersonic jet.

Dell was energetic and enthusiastic.  She was fueled by determination and drive, always aspiring to better herself.  A collector of thoughts and things, she was very creative and you could often catch her keeping a journal.

 Growing up during the Depression and being a war bride surely influenced her thriftiness and compassion.  She was a homemaker who loved to sew and she enjoyed gardening throughout her life.  Dell truly had a creative spark.  She followed fashion and often wore a colorful scarf around her neck.  She was graced by good genes and always looked younger than her age.  She was in very good health until her later years when she developed Alzheimer’s.

One of her simply pleasures was sharing a cup of tea or a glass of wine, and definitely chocolate, most definitely chocolate, enjoying conversation with friends and family.

She had a sense of community and volunteered for many organizations including the United Way, the Santa Monica Assistance League, benefiting local children and families, and helped out at the voting polls.  She found comfort in going to church on Sundays.

Dell stood a mere 5’ 1” but with her strong spirit and unwavering perseverance she was not afraid to voice her opinion.  Those who were her friends benefited from her loyalty.   She was dearly loved and greatly admired.

She lay to rest with her first husband Wilbur Henry Turner in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Westwood, California. The Tingler family requested private services, we thank you for your support during this difficult time.