OBITUARY: Dennis Ring July 20, 1949-January 23, 2013
AN eloquent reflection of the high regard felt for Dandenong North’s Dennis Ring was the crowd of 700 mourners who paid tribute to him at his funeral service.
The carpenter, former footballer and football coach died a year after being diagnosed with cancer. His wish to die in his home — the same home he and his wife Pammy had lived in for 37 years — was granted, and he was surrounded by his devoted family.
Mr Ring was born in Heathcote in central Victoria and went to school there at the Sacred Heart Primary School. When his family moved to Dandenong, he attended St John’s College.
He undertook an apprenticeship in carpentry and built numerous houses in Dandenong and district.
His skilful carpentry meant his grandchildren benefited from the many wooden toys he made for them.
As a junior footballer he was very popular in Dandenong West and when a senior player he played for a Dandenong team, later with Keysborough. He coached a Keysborough under-17 team and was justly proud when they achieved premiership honours in 1979.
During the Vietnam War he served in the Australian Army as a private.
Mrs Jodie Pitkin of Warragul, one of his daughters said: “It was my father’s wish we were with him when he died. He bore his illness with courage and fortitude.”
He is survived by his wife, daughter Jodie and son-in-law Russell, daughter Kristy, grandchildren Jai and Ella, and his sisters Judith and Carolyn, brother Robert and nieces and nephews. Mr Ring was buried in the Springvale Lawn Cemetery.
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