Glenda Joyce Dickerson, 65, died Saturday, Jan. 18 in Modesto.
She was born in Oakdale, the daughter of the late Robert ‘Bill’ Dickerson and Gilda ‘Gil’ Dickerson. She graduated from Oakdale High School in 1966, and went on to attend Grace Ball Secretarial College in San Francisco.
She returned to the Central Valley and began working as a school secretary, which is where she met and ultimately married (former husband) William K. ‘Bill’ Mensing on Dec. 14, 1969. After getting married, she continued to work as a school secretary in the public schools and became increasingly active in her union, the California School Employees Association (CSEA), eventually becoming president of her local chapter.
In 1989, she returned to school to pursue her bachelor’s degree and graduated with honors from California State University, Stanislaus with a double-major in political science and philosophy. Following her graduation, she worked for CSEA as a labor relations representative on behalf of thousands of public school employees throughout the Central Valley. After leaving CSEA in 1999, she worked on local and regional political campaigns for a number of years, and remained politically active until recently.
Ms. Dickerson will be remembered for her intelligence, quick wit, and sense of humor. She will be remembered for her passionate advocacy of causes that were dear to her heart. Most of all, she will be remembered as a loving and compassionate mother, sister, daughter, and friend.
She is survived by her companion, Sam Hiserman of Modesto; her children, Todd (Sara Jurney) Mensing of Houston, Texas, Ryan Mensing of New York City, N.Y.; brothers, Robert (Debra) Dickerson of Woodland Hills, Brett (Diane) Dickerson of Oakdale; and grandchildren, Lucas, Eli, and Matthew of Houston, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Gil Dickerson.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Oakdale Memorial Chapel, 830 West F St. A reception for friends and family will immediately follow at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club, 243 N. Stearns Road.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Modesto Gospel Mission, 1400 Yosemite Blvd., P.O. Box 1203, Modesto, CA 95353; or to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, 2201 Euclid Ave., Hughson, CA 95326.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
Jan. 22, 2014
