Ray Gerald Dingledine, age 80 of Jackson, passed away on December 24, 2023 at his home.Ray was born on January 30, 1943 in Madison County to the late Inez Mullens. He graduated from Jackson High School in 1961 and went on to be an influence in the lives of countless children, teenagers, and adults in the West Tennessee area. He began his lifelong concessionaire career at the age of 8, selling popcorn for Coach Tury Oman at Jackson High football games at Rothrock Stadium. He was the concessions manager for Jackson Recreation and Parks Department for over 30 years and he proudly gave many teenagers their first jobs. He continued on in concessions until his retirement in 2020, and over the course of his career, he fed thousands of people at concerts, sporting events, and Friendly Frank’s Flea Market. Most notably, Ray was known as “The Coke Man” because of his work in many West Tennessee school systems as Coca-Cola’s Area Youth Market Manager. After leaving Coca-Cola in 1990, he owned and operated Dingledine’s Community Grocery in South Jackson for more than 20 years. He never met a stranger and would share Christ with anyone who would listen.
Ray wasn’t raised in church but gave his life to Christ as a young adult. In the 70s and 80s, he led many youth group trips for conventions and mission work in Appalachia and Myrtle Beach with Malesus Baptist Church, even making a trip to the World’s Fair in Knoxville in 1982. He was ordained as a deacon at Malesus and went on to serve in that capacity at Meridian Baptist Church, and at East Laurel Baptist Church. He loved planning fellowship activities, especially the Valentine’s Breakfast cooked by all the men at East Laurel. Sharing the love of Christ through hospitality and service was his goal in life.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sister in law, Ronnie and Anita Dingledine, and half-sisters, Marilyn Haynes and Joanne Croskey.
Ray is survived by his wife, Bonnie Williams Dingledine; two daughters, Keri Dingledine Creasy (Freddie) and Emily Dingledine Coronado; and two beloved grandsons, Christian Coronado and Micah Coronado who affectionately called him “Pop.”
Funeral services for Ray will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 10:00 am at the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons with Bro. Manning Garrett and Bro. Jerry Coln officiating. Burial will follow in Walnut Hill Cemetery near Bells. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening, December 27, 2023 from 4-7 p.m. at the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons.
