Dina Kay James, 71, of Marble Hill, Missouri passed away on March 26 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
Dina was born Jan. 13, 1951 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to Vernon and Cora (Whitmer) Pennington. She attended Poplar Bluff High School and then went on to Three Rivers Community College. She then attended Southeast Missouri State University where she received a degree in education. After graduation she began teaching at the Doniphan R1 School District where she spent the next 31 years before retiring and moving to Marble Hill, Missouri to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
In July of 1973, Dina married the love of her life, William James. Together they had two children: Penne James and Nickolas (Whitney) James also of Jackson, Missouri, and three grandchildren, Levi, Paisley and Darla. Anyone who knew Dina found it easy to see that her family was the pride and joy of her life.
Dina was preceded in death by her father, Vernon, and mother, Cora. She is survived by one sister, Darlene Wright, and one brother, Vernon Pennington Jr., both of Poplar Bluff.
Those who knew Dina knew she had an extraordinary joy for life. She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her church, her family, and every person she crossed paths with. Her wish was for all of us to rejoice in her journey to Heaven and instead of a funeral service to have a Celebration of Life. Details on this event are still forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, Dina would have loved for donations to be made to local scholarship funds. The family of Dina James also asks for people to please consider becoming an organ donor.