Lovell Daniel Diddy, 96, of Ridge Manor, Florida, died November 25, 2008 at Haven Hospice, Gainesville, Florida.
He is survived by a son, Gary Diddy and wife Janet of Arvada, Colorado; a daughter, Kathleen Tomson and husband Farol of Gainesville, Florida; five grandchildren, Sara Diddy Colvard and husband John of Centerburg, Ohio; Hugh Diddy and wife Eve of New York City, New York; Farol L. Tomson of Dallas, Texas; Elizabeth Tomson Sergile and husband Alain of Madrid, Spain; and Eric Tomson and wife Kelly of Richmond, Virginia; seven great-grandchildren, Jake, Chloe and Sophia Colvard of Centerburg, Ohio; Tessa, Sebastien and Ian Sergile of Madrid, Spain; and Samantha Tomson of Richmond, Virginia; and one sister, Marjory Orr of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
He was born December 17, 1911 to D. Walter and Ida Diddy, in Washington Township, Iowa. He graduated in 1931 from Washington Township High School, Washington Township, Iowa; he received his BA in 1936 from Drake University and his Master of Science Degree in Education in 1942 from Drake University. He taught school at Washington Township High School, Minburn, Iowa, and West Bend High School, Iowa; and was Superintendent of Schools at DeSoto, Iowa. In June of 1944 he joined the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant and in 1950 was promoted to Captain in the US Marine Corps Reserves. After WW II, he served as Superintendent of Schools at Meservey, Iowa for 18 years; principal of Meservey-Thornton, Iowa and Ventura, Iowa School districts. His avocation was coaching girls basketball; he had over 400 career victories in 24 years of coaching. In 1939 he lead the West Bend team to a State Championship and coached 4 teams in state meets. In 1957 the Meservey girls finished 3rd in the state championships and in 1958 they placed 4th. After retirement as an educator in 1974, Lovell and Lucille started dividing time between Iowa and Florida so they could spend more time pursuing their love of golf. He was preceded in death by his wife Lucille; parents; two brothers, Paul, and his twin brother Loren; and one sister, Phyllis FitzSimmons.
[S5] Find A Grave, → Memorial ID 31997290.