Fidelia Rita Dickinson

1924 - 2016

Fidelia Rita Dickinson September 21, 1924 - December 2, 2016 San Diego Dr. Fidelia R. Dickinson, age 92, died peacefully at home on December 2, 2016. She is survived by 4 nieces and 5 nephews and their families. Fidelia was born in St. Louis to Edward L. Fleming and Fidelia L. Ganahl. The family lived in Glendale, CA. She attended Immaculate Heart High School in Hollywood graduating in 1942. In August, 1942 she entered the Order of the Immaculate Heart Sisters in Hollywood and served as a teacher at Los Angeles Schools for 16 years having earned a B.A. and M.A. at Immaculate Heart College. In 1958, she left the order to reenter civilian life. She entered UCLA to obtain a doctorate where she met and married John W. Dickinson. They moved to Wisconsin where Fidelia took a position of the Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for two years. They moved back to CA where John taught at SDSU and she at USD because SDSU had a nepotism clause. Eventually that clause gave way to one of Affirmative Action, and she was able to work at SDSU first as a librarian and finally as an instructor in the English Dept. for the next 8 years. She hosted over 100 native Chinese from all parts of China seeking advanced degrees in the US. This was in memory of her oldest brother, Maj. Robert E. Fleming who disappeared in southern China during WW II. Contact Goodbody Mortuary for information (619-582-1700)