MayBelle E. (Dykstra) Dickinson
Batavia - MayBelle E. Dickinson, 96, of Batavia, a longtime resident of Evergreen Drive, died Saturday (May 19, 2012) at the LeRoy Village Green following a brief illness.
She was born in Buffalo, NY on January 26, 1916 to Frederick and Frances (Snyder) Dykstra. MayBelle was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Batavia for 86 years, where she was a member of the choir, a member and official of the church's Star Class and served as the church historian for many years. As a young girl, she attended Genesee Wesleyan Seminary boarding school in Lima, NY, where she was fortunate enough to meet then New York State governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and was invited to sit on his lap during a visit to the school. She was chosen for this honor because she was the smallest member of her class. MayBelle was a 1934 graduate of Batavia High School and also attended the Park Avenue School of Nursing in Rochester, NY. She was a graduate of Rochester Business Institute. As a young woman, she was a medical secretary in the offices of Dr. Irwin Cole and Dr. Gaylord Ribby and was a former employee of Lawing Studio in Batavia.
MayBelle was predeceased in 1993 by her husband of 54 years, John D. Dickinson whom she met on a blind date and married four months later, grandson Jeffrey Burdett, sister Virginia Dykstra and brother Earl Dykstra.
She is survived by her three children; Paul (Joan) Dickinson of Holley, Virginia (Russel) Yoho of Mayville and Marsha (Ronald) Ladd of Batavia. She was the grandmother to 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She is also survived by cherished cousins George and Corinne Klein of Getzville and a dear friend, Mary Ellen Schnellman of Florida.
There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, 190 Oak St., Batavia, NY 14020. Burial will be in the Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Corfu. Memorials may be made to the church or to the Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St. Batavia, NY 14020. Arrangements were made with C. B. Beach & Son Mortuary, Inc. 4-6 Main St., Corfu.
