Dorothy Diane Kastigar
November 13, 1937-July 13, 2020
KASTIGAR, D. Diane Deal, 82 of Powhatan, VA, departed this life July 13, 2020, to reunite with her parents and angel baby in heaven. The only child of Earl and Virginia Deal, she was born in Dayton, OH, on November 13, 1937. A 1956 graduate of Randolph High School, she was a good student and involved in MANY clubs, activities and organizations — elected to office in most and voted Most Likely to Succeed by her senior class. At Miami University she was a proud GDI, graduating in 1960 with a B.S. in Education. Immediately following college, she married and moved to Chillicothe, OH, where she taught junior high school and had both of her daughters. In 1967, the family moved to Smyrna, GA, where, in addition to her roles of wife and mother, she began a new career as an Administrative Assistant. In Smyrna, she also learned to play the guitar, became a Brownie Scout Troop leader and softball mom, adopted MacDougal the Sheltie, and discovered an affinity for Alltoona Lake. In 1974, the family was transferred to Lynchburg, VA, where she became a band and swim team mom, joined a bowling league, and eventually returned to work as an Administrative Assistant. In 1982 she remarried, becoming the best “wicked” step mom and GranDee a kid could ever want. In the following years she would return to both GA and VA before retiring to Troy, OH, to be near her aging parents. Back in Ohio, she was thrilled to be reunited with family and old friends. She made deep and lasting relationships everywhere she lived. She loved people and was truly a caring, attentive friend. In her sixties, she focused the natural compassion she had for people into becoming a Stephens Minister. In addition to God and her children, she had a life-long love of music, movies, drawing, reading, writing poetry, her dogs, daisies, lady bugs and bears — amassing a large collection of the latter. While Alzheimer’s impacted her ability, it did not completely steal her joy. In 2010, her need for care dictated a move to VA to live with her oldest daughter and son-in-law. In 2016, she was delighted when her younger daughter joined them. Prior to a mid-March stroke and ensuing decline, she spent her last decade with her girls and their extended families, enjoying music, movies, going out to lunch, sitting on the deck, and the dogs. A loving, caring, giving person, Diane was well loved and is now, much missed. –Especially by her children, Gabrielle Beck (Charles), and Christianne Buchanan, all of Powhatan, VA. The family wishes to thank Ginter Hall South of Chesterfield, VA, and Hospice Community Care, of Glen Allen, VA. A graveside service will be held on July 24, 2020, at 10:30 a.m., in Woodstock Cemetery, Woodstock, OH. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Research or Hospice.
Arrangements by Affinity Funeral Service Richmond Chapel.
Christi, Charlie and I want to extend our sincere and heartfelt appreciation to Josh Mullins and the kind team at Affinity for stewarding us through this difficult time and process. Even with forewarning, losing your mother is exceptionally painful. We are grateful to Josh for his compassion and calming manner as he helped us navigate getting mom home to Ohio during a pandemic.
Our mom was a caring, giving, loving person. We are so thankful for all of the wonderful, helpful people God has placed on our path as we say goodbye.
Gaby Beck
I knew her at Randolph. She was always funny and involved in everything we did. Our lives went different directions after graduation but she was one never to be forgotten. To think of Diane is to make me smile. So many happy stories I could tell
I enjoyed many lunches and outings with “Dee” and Christi. She always had warm hugs and lots of little chuckles. We especially enjoyed lunch at a restaurant in nearby Goochland where everyone in the place called her Mom. I’m grateful she spent her last years in a house of love with her daughters, son-in-law and Marly (the beloved family dog). May the peace of God that passeth all understanding abide with her spirit and all the many who loved her.
I met Dee when we arrived at Miami U to begin our freshman year. We soon discovered the reason we looked familiar to each other was that we grew up fairly close together (she in Union and me about 12 miles up State Rt. 48 in Pleasant Hill) and we had seen each other many times at Miller’s Grove swimming pool. We soon became good friends and were in each others weddings and kept in touch fairly well through the years. When she moved back to Troy, Ohio, we were able to connect in person again since I was just down the road in Tipp City. Dee was fun, funny, kind, compassionate, and a joy to have as a friend…..many good memories! I am so thankful that she was able to spend these last years with Gaby, Charlie, Christi, and all the family.
I had the pleasure of knowing this beautiful woman through being her daughter,, Christi. I only know her as “Mama”. I’m so blessed to have many sweet memories. We are never ready to say goodbye forever even though we know it is a part of life. This day my heart is heavy for losing someone so special, but as we mourn your death, we also celebrate your life.
It always seems like we have all the time in the world, only to realize how fleeting it really is. I wish we had more time to do and say the things we saved for later which along with you is gone forever.
Even in death you are still loved and forever will be. You have touched the hearts of so many who owe you a lifetime of gratitude. We are not saying goodbye forever but goodbye for now. Rest in peace Mama. I will always hold you close and dear to my heart.