Diane Annette Pinkston Of Southampton Dies February 5

Diane Annette Pinkston of Southampton died peacefully and surrounded by family on February 5. She was 78.

A graduate of Jennings High School in St. Louis, Missouri, she lived and worked in St. Louis for several years post-graduation. She met her future husband, Dean Pinkston, while they were both camping and fishing with their families at Bennett Spring State Park in Missouri. On their first date at the campground lodge, he asked for her hand in marriage, but it wouldn’t be until he moved to St. Louis to date her seriously that she said “yes.” Diane and Dean were married in her family church with a home reception in 1966, and their love lasted a lifetime.

She took great pride in creating a warm and affectionate home, her family said, and then when their daughter, Wendy, arrived in 1971, she spent her time raising her. A fun-loving and generous woman, she enjoyed entertaining friends, laughing loudly, and having a good time. Always the inclusive hostess, a new friend from the supermarket or the furniture salesperson could find themselves invited to one of their many soirees. Wendy’s college friends were always invited to come to dinner or stay over if they wanted a home-cooked meal or to do some laundry. Diane and Dean opened the antique lamp store Lights Your Way, where Diane would paint glass shades and Dean would clean and fix the lamps.

In 2005, the couple moved to Southampton to be closer to Wendy, their son-in-law, and their two granddaughters. They were fortunate to spend many summers together at the beach, teaching the girls how to paint, fish, and to cook. In Southampton, she continued the antique lamp business and fixed many of the lamps in the Southampton Historical Society, where she served as a volunteer, a vendor in their flea markets, and worked in the gift shop.

She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Southampton and volunteered there for many years. She also painted many porcelain items and sold them and her lamps at Art in the Park and other area vendor sales.

She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Cebula, and son-in-law, Vince, both of Manhattan and Southampton; her sister, Gwynn McKay of Republic, Missouri, and her family, Dan Malgran; and her two granddaughters, Naomi and Charlotte Cebula of Manhattan.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 11, from 3-5 p.m. at the O’Connell-Rothwell Funeral Home, located at 30 Little Plain Road in Southampton. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 12, at the First Presbyterian Church in Southampton at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Southampton Cemetery.