Paul Dean Rager

Paul Dean Rager, 86, a Pretty Lake area resident in Plymouth, Indiana, died in his home following an illness, at 5:16 p.m. Monday, May 10, 2010.

The son of Paul W. Rager and Henrietta (Williamson) Rager, he was born on March 23, 1924. On April 2, 1967, he married Barbara A. McKinney in Anderson, Indiana. She survives.

Dean was a Veteran of WWII, serving as a paratrooper with the 334th, a special unit attached to the 101st Screaming Eagles Airborne Division. He served from 1943 to 1946 in Italy and France.

He graduated from Pierceton High School in 1942 and Manchester College in 1949. He went on to receive a Masters in Administration and Education from Indiana University in 1954.

Dean served many years in the education field. He was a high school teacher and coach at Sidney H.S. from 1949 to 1950. He taught fifth grade in the Monticello School System and served as Jr. High Track and Football Coach from 1954 to 1959. He spent six years as the South Whitley High School Principal from 1959 to 1965 and twelve years as the Akron Elementary and Jr. High Principal from 1965 to 1977. His last principal’s position was at West Elementary from 1977 to 1990 in Plymouth.

After retirement in 1990 Dean served as a Student Teacher Supervisor for Ball State University and IUSB. In the fall of 2000 he was asked to serve as the interim principal for Webster School in Plymouth.

Dean was a past member of the South Whitley and Akron Lions Clubs and Akron United Methodist Church. He served as president of District Area #5 of the Indiana Association of School Principals. He was also a past member of Plymouth Country Club and served on the board.

Dean had numerous hobbies which included photography; he took many weddings and school year book pictures. He was a life member of the U.S. Chess Federation and taught hundreds of children to play chess that attended his schools and at the Plymouth Boys and Girls Clubs. Along with several of his friends, he built six Y-Flyer sailboats and helped start the Y-Flyer Fleet on Winona Lake and served as the Fleet Commander. Later, when he moved to Akron he sailed C Scows on Lake Manitou, Rochester, and served as the Fleet Commander. Dean was also an avid golfer while a member of Plymouth Country Club.

He loved to write and penned numerous short stories and poems. As an avid reader he always had a book by his side.

Dean is also survived by three daughters: Pam and Mike McFarland of Akron, IN, Rene and Shauli Rosen-Rager of Hemet, CA, and Christa Smith of Zionsville, IN and one son: Delmar Rager of New Orleans, LA.; five grandchildren, Bethany, Ryan, Yoni, Chelsea, and Austin and one great grandchild. One brother, Jack Rager of Pierceton, IN, and two sisters: Marilee Bailey of Pierceton and Nancy Schuman of Del Norte, CO, also survive.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Judith Rager.

As were Dean’s wishes there will be no visitation or public services, a family memorial celebration will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts in Dean’s name may be made to the Marshall Co. Boys and Girls Club, 314 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth, IN 46563, Plymouth Public Library, 201 N. Center St., Plymouth or to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 112 S. Center St., Suite C, Plymouth.