RODNEY LEWIS DASINGER

Rodney Lewis Dasinger of Panama City, Florida passed away in his home December 31, 2011. He fought a long hard battle and never gave up. He was born April 2, 1946 in Pensacola, Florida. His entire life was dedicated to passing on the love and appreciation of music. He taught in Alabama for 14 years before coming to Rutherford High where he was the band director for 29 years before his retirement in 2009. His love for music was nurtured at an early age by his parents who provided piano and instrumental lesson starting when he was six years old. He attended Escambia County, Florida schools and graduated high school at Kindley High in Bermuda. He received a BA degree in music from the University of West Alabama and an MS degree in music education from the University of North Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Alvin and Genell Simmonds Dasinger, a brother, Roger Alvin Dasinger, and two nephews, Randall Story Dasinger and Bryan Neal Johnson. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Laurie Skipper Dasinger, brother, Dr. Norman Dasinger, Sr. and wife Sharon, sister-in-law, Louvena Johnson and husband Bo. Numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews also survive. Although he never had children of his own, he considered the thousands of students he taught over his 43 year career as his children. He was a past member of Alabama Band Directors Association, Florida Band Directors Association, American School Band Directors Association, and Phi Beta Mu. He served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southeast. His bands consistently received Superior ratings on the district, state, and national level. He was never comfortable accepting accolades for his success, he only wanted recognition for his students' achievements, and was so proud of them for always doing the best they could do. His greatest reward has been the outpouring of responses from his children during his illness. His legacy will live on through his students who are directly or indirectly involved in music. His second passion in life was bass fishing and he had been a member of Panama City Bass Masters since 1988. Some of his happiest moments were spent with his friends at Lake Seminole and the River. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the Emerald Coast Fellowship Church. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the Asbury United Methodist Church Cemetery, Ozark, AL. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 5 – 7 p.m. Those desiring may make memorial donations to Covenant Hospice, 107 W 19th Street, Panama City, FL 32405 or to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in memory of Rodney Dasinger.

Wilson Funeral Home