Eileen V. Dillinder
Eileen Dillinder, 87, passed away peacefully on August 14th, 2015. Spending her childhood on a farm in Wellsville, MO, she was a resident of Green Mountain Falls during her high school years, and subsequently, from 1979 until present, Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. She spent many years in St. Joseph, MO raising her family. She graduated from Manitou Springs High School in 1945 and attended college in Kirksville, MO.
Eileen was born in El Monte, CA, in 1927 to Ethel White and Harry Cheeseman. She married William O.K. Dillinder in 1953, having two sons, Thomas and David.
Eileen was the Matriarch of her extended family. In this modern world, she was an unwavering role model of integrity, honesty, and natural kindness toward others. She possessed rich language and vocabulary skills, yet she had a unique way of distilling the complexities and challenges of our human lives into practicality and common sense. She enriched the lives of others through dedication to sisterhood, lifelong friendships and family. She demonstrated class far beyond material possession or vanity, by finding her ultimate happiness and satisfaction in always putting others before herself. A friend described her as the most “genuine” person they’d ever known.
Eileen will always share a special bond with other parents that face the challenges of raising special needs children. Contributions can be made in her name to Cheyenne Village, 6275 Lehman Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.
Eileen is survived by her two loving sisters, Elizabeth and Esther; her brother-in-law Ronald Schutz; cousin-in-law Patricia Bentrup; son David; her two grandsons: William and Andrew; and numerous family members and friends across the country.
Services will be held at 2 PM, Friday, August 21st, at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80910. Visitation will be held from 1-1:45 PM on August 21st at the same location. Interment will follow in St. Joseph, MO.