Mariella W. Dibble

March 26, 1920 - October 26, 2021

Mariella was born to Carmen Agnes Lindsey Western and Clarence Preston Western in Trenton MO. She attended high school in Pueblo CO and in spite of being born with defective eyes, she completed high school with the help of a young man named Bob Dibble who read for her and with the caring help and support of her teachers. She met Bob on a high school music competition trip. They began dating and were married January 30, 1942. Bob and Mariella had three children: Margaret Louise (Peggy) Dibble Linville of La Pine OR, Rebecca Agnes Szymanski of Salem OR and Bruce Bartlett Dibble of Mansfield TX. They had been married 55 years when he passed away in October of 1993. Over the years, military and employment assignments took Bob and Mariella to Colorado, California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Texas, Alaska, Washington and Oregon. She lived in Salem/Keizer at the time of her passing on October 26, 2021 at the age of 101 years and seven months. Mariella was active in her church, the Council for the Blind and Guide Dog Users. Her four guide dogs took her many places and on daily walks. Trying to keep up with them was always challenging. She was instrumental in the installation of audible crosswalk signals in Salem and Keizer. An avid reader, she read Braille and always had a selection of Talking Books from the Library for the Blind. In 2015, she published a book of memoires entitled Treasures I Keep. Mariella was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Bob Dibble, her brothers Laurence, Madison and John. She is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, five great, great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The family requests that anyone who wishes to is encouraged to contribute to Guide Dogs for the Blind in her memory and in lieu of flowers.