The very uncomplicated but extraordinary life of Dr. Joe Ed Dietzen, 85, ended September 11, 2010. He now embarks on another journey that will reunite him with his wife of fifty-two years, Ann S. Dietzen.
Son of Matt and Edna Coppinger Dietzen, Joe Ed was born March 18th, 1925 in Coppinger Cove at the home place of his maternal grandparents. On a rainy night, Matt knew the time was near for the arrival of this baby. He saddled a horse and went to Sequatchie to meet Dr. Price since there were no roads for cars into the cove. Matt told Dr. Price to ride the horse, he would walk. When the doctor delivered the baby, he said, "Matt and Edna, here is Joe Ed." Since Joe Ed's paternal grandfather was named Joseph Nicholas and his father was Matthew Edward, this is how the name was decided. Joe Ed attended Richard City kindergarten, went to grammar school at South Pittsburg and graduated from South Pittsburg High School in 1943, where he played football and received several awards, sports and scholastically. He was selected to go to Boys State in June of 1942 and was one of the first students to represent Marion County. After graduating from South Pittsburg High school in the spring of 1943, Joe Ed joined the Army Air Corps. He served twenty-eight months, collecting the Air Medal and three oak-leaf cluster awards.
After serving his country, he returned home and entered the University of Chattanooga. A year later, he entered the University of Tennessee, at Knoxville to complete his predental. He was accepted at the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis in January 1949, becoming a member of Psi Omega Dental Fraternity. He graduated from the Dental School in December of 1951 with a D.D.S. degree.
Joe Ed returned to South Pittsburg and set up his practice in March 1952 across the hall from Dr. J. T. Ferguson in the Ferguson Building in a two-room space where he practiced for three years. Then he bought Dr. Joe Kirkpatrick's dental practice in 1955, located above the Bargain Store. In 1961, Joe Ed bought the building on 110 W. 3rd Street from Mary Towles and he would retire from dentistry in that building 41 years later. In addition to serving faithfully as Elder of the South Pittsburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Joe Ed was also active in City civic affairs, where he was considered a "live wire" in the South Pittsburg Jaycees. He also served in many capacities of the Lions Club, including as President; President, Sequatchie Golf & Country Club; Chairman, Annual Glaucoma Clinic; member, Housing Authority Board; Chairman, Christmas Seals Regional Advisory Council of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association. He also served on the Sequatchie Valley Electric Cooperative, as well as the Marion County Gas and Water Board, where he was at one time a director. He was an active member of the Tennessee Society Dental Association as well as the American Dental Association.
Like his father, Joe Ed was an avid outdoorsman where he made a garden every year at the original Towles cabin until he sold it in 2002. Yet nothing pleased him more than to catch a fish.
Joe Ed married Annie Ruth Searcy on June 22, 1949 at the little Richard City Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This, we were told, was the first formal wedding to take place in that church.
Left to reminisce---and brag---about his life are his son, David Edward Dietzen; sisters-in-law, Elaine Searcy, Mildred Searcy, Jeanette Searcy; "brothers," Claude Bratcher Jr. and Bill Dietzen; cherished nieces, Jane Kennemore, Julia Searcy, Theresa Searcy, and Lora Searcy; beloved nephews, Jerry Kennemore, Johnny Searcy, Joseph Searcy, Matt Searcy, and Roger Searcy; preceding Joe Ed in death were brothers-in-law Bob Searcy, John Searcy, and Carl Searcy.
Funeral services will be conducted at the graveside in Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 11:00 am Central time.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 pm Central at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations can be made to the South Pittsburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church, PO Box 327, South Pittsburg, TN 37380, or Camp Glancy.
He will be missed---but was loved---by all.