Beth Dendinger
Age - 90
December 5, 2023
Beth Fritchie Fleming Dendinger, a longtime resident of Slidell, Louisiana, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 90 years of age. Beth was born Georgia Beth Fritchie on January 23rd, 1933, in Slidell at the family's Lee Street home. She was the middle child of Homer Gus Fritchie Sr. , and Nellie Eugenie Bousquet and grew up with her four siblings in the Salmen-Fritchie House on Cleveland Avenue while her father served as Mayor of Slidell for 32 years. A self-proclaimed 'tomboy,' Beth was a very active child. She often could be found climbing trees and playing with her siblings and cousins in the yard of 'The Big House' as they called it. Both her father and her mother instilled a love of learning in her from a young age, as well as a love of music. Some of her fondest childhood memories were of her mother playing the piano with her father singing alongside her and of the large library inside their family home. Beth excelled in school. She was an Honor roll student and a member of the Mu Sigma Honor Society at Slidell High School. She was active in the Glee Club and Spanish Club, as well as being a member of the High School Band as a majorette. She even learned to play the snare drums, when the requirement to stay a member of the majorette squad was changed to require the playing of an instrument. She admitted that she wasn't great at every subject though, as Math was her least favorite subject and referred to Algebra, as her "Waterloo. " Beth graduated from Slidell High School in 1951. She moved to New Orleans to attend Harriet Sophie Newcomb College, majoring in Psychology. In her junior year at Newcomb, she married Meigs Frost Fleming from Lafitte, Louisiana. She then completed her degree from Newcomb, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1955. After her graduation she and Frost moved back to Slidell, and she began working for Slidell's branch of the St. Tammany Parish Library as an associate librarian but soon followed a friend into the Education field as an elementary school English teacher. There she found her true passion in mentoring and helping shape young minds, as well as passing on her love of learning. She had quite the reputation as a teacher. Students knew her to be strict and have high standards for them, however they also found her to be very 'human' once on the playground. She was one of the few teachers who would join in on games of hopscotch, jump rope, basketball, and soccer. In the middle of her teaching years, she and Frost adopted their only child, a son named Robert, in 1962. She took a break from teaching to stay home and care for young Robert. After 3 years, she returned to teaching. She wanted to provide the best education to her students, so she returned to college on nights and summer sessions to complete a Master's of Education in Counseling. She held herself to the same high expectations that she held her students to and thus continued her own education while teaching. Beth went on to complete a master's +30 in Administration and Supervision and other certifications in various areas of education. Her son, Robert, liked to joke that Beth would be a student until even after he graduated from college himself. He was nearly correct! In total, Beth taught 26 1/2 years before taking early retirement. After retiring, Beth met her second husband, Albert Dendinger, through Al's daughter-in-law, Brenda, at an engagement party. She and Al hit it off, fell in love and were married in 2002 to the joy of both families. Beth often called Al 'the love of her life' and they lived a happy life together until his passing in 2012. Beth was a dedicated patron of her local Methodist Church, taking active part in bible studies, knitting circles, and fellowships. She had a passion for music, loved to play the piano and continued doing so for all her life. She enjoyed cooking for her family, making family classics like pecan pralines, sweet potato casserole and Kahlua cake. Beth is survived by her Daughter-in-law, Joy Soeller Fleming Timmerman (Charles); Beth's stepson, Duane Allen Dendinger (Brenda); 6 grandchildren, Megan and Miles Fleming, Brandon Albert Dendinger and Beth Allyson Gayle, Tara Rae Thompson, Dani Combs, and 6 great grandchildren, Elijah and Ethan Dendinger, Finn and Maggie Lynn Gayle, Kaden and Cooper Combs and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Beth is preceded in death by her parents, Homer Gus and Nellie Fritchie; her siblings, Nelouise "Suzy" Williams, Alice Barbara Fritchie Ware, Homer Gus Fritchie Jr. , and Grace Burkes; her beloved husband, Albert B. Dendinger; and her son, Robert Frost Fleming. A Memorial service officiated byShow more
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