Charleen Mary Dibble, 83, a thirty-three year resident of Oak Harbor, died March 6, 2009, at McKinley’s Adult Family Home in Oak Harbor following a lengthy illness.

Charleen was born in Holland, Mich., on Sept. 25, 1925, to Charles and Opa (Latta) McCormick. She was raised in Holland and graduated from Holland High School in 1943 where she met her future husband, Navy pilot, Edgar J. Dibble, whom she married in 1944 while stationed in San Diego.

After his death, she resided in Pensacola, Fla., moving to Oak Harbor in 1971. Charleen was a volunteer for the Whidbey Playhouse in the late 1970s, helping to design and build stage sets. She enjoyed gardening, painting, listening to the Navy Band perform and watching the local Holland Happening events.

In 2000 she moved to the East Coast, returning to Oak Harbor in 2005.

Charleen is survived by her five children, Constance Harrison of Seattle, Joan McKinney of Annapolis, Md., Candice Dibble of Minneapolis, James Dibble of Kenmore, Wash., and Kelly Gilman of Oak Harbor; three grandchildren, Sean McKinney of Denver, Colo., Michael McKinney of Greensboro, N.C. and Ryan Gilman of Oak Harbor; three great-grandchildren, Alec McKinney of Denver, Ben and Hannah McKinney of Greensboro, N.C.; one sister, Dona Kuipers of New Holland, Penn. She was preceded in death by her husband of 21 years, Captain Edgar J. Dibble, in 1965; also by Commodore Donald G. Gumz, who had been a loving companion and friend from 1977 until his death in 1987.

Services will be private. Memorials are suggested to McKinley’s Adult Family Home, 4366 Cerullo Dr., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guest register at www.whidbeymemorial.com. Arrangements are with the assistance of Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service, Oak Harbor.