Obituary for Dianne Sowell Buffington
Dianne (Sowell) Buffington passed away peacefully on Friday February 18th, 2022 in Allentown, PA. The daughter of Inez and Tommy “TW” Sowell, she was born on September 7, 1947 in Statesboro, GA.
Dianne spent most of her early years in Bulloch County where she attended and graduated from South East Bulloch High School. She worked as a candy striper at Bulloch County Hospital during high school. After high school she worked at Rockwell International in Statesboro where she met her late husband Rodney Buffington. Dianne and Rodney were married in May of 1974 and their life adventures began!
She moved to Pennsylvania with Rod where they raised their daughters and in 1986 she began her overseas adventures when Rod was transferred to a position in Tokyo, Japan. She was active with the American Women’s Association in Japan and fell in love with the game of Mahjong. In 1988 Dianne and Rod moved to Hong Kong and she continued her work as a Co-Chair of the American Women’s Association and shared her love of Mahjong as an instructor of the game. She loved to entertain, built amazing long term friendships with people from all over the world, and developed a taste for Asian art and antiques. Dianne and Rod moved back to Pennsylvania in 1995 where she began working at Hills Imports Inc. She loved to play golf and had a great passion for cooking. After her husband’s passing in 2011, Dianne and her daughters became involved in charity work for pancreatic cancer and founded the Teed Off At Cancer Charity Golf Tournament. Later on in life she was a resident of Moore, SC and enjoyed afternoon lunch excursions and Bunco games with the ladies of her neighborhood.
She is survived by her daughters Lisa Suzanne Sikes and Anitra Dyan Winkler, her grandchildren Travis Hutchinson (Joanna), Eric Sikes, Mason and Trinity Winkler, and great-grandchildren Eason and Everly Hutchinson. Sisters Rebecca June Carroll, Karen McMichael, and brother-in-law Gaylan Schmidt as well as numerous cousins and extended family.
Dianne is preceded in death by her husband, Rodney Buffington, sister Fay Schmidt, brothers Danny Sowell and Tim Faircloth (“Fat Cat”), and her beloved designer cats Oscar and Coco.
During her life she touched many lives from all over the world through her travels and her charity work. She was a loving wife, devoted mother, loyal sister, doting grandmother, and dedicated friend.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in both Pennsylvania and Georgia so that all who knew and loved her may attend.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Lung Association or plant flowers or a tree in her memory.
Dianne spent most of her early years in Bulloch County where she attended and graduated from South East Bulloch High School. She worked as a candy striper at Bulloch County Hospital during high school. After high school she worked at Rockwell International in Statesboro where she met her late husband Rodney Buffington. Dianne and Rodney were married in May of 1974 and their life adventures began!
She moved to Pennsylvania with Rod where they raised their daughters and in 1986 she began her overseas adventures when Rod was transferred to a position in Tokyo, Japan. She was active with the American Women’s Association in Japan and fell in love with the game of Mahjong. In 1988 Dianne and Rod moved to Hong Kong and she continued her work as a Co-Chair of the American Women’s Association and shared her love of Mahjong as an instructor of the game. She loved to entertain, built amazing long term friendships with people from all over the world, and developed a taste for Asian art and antiques. Dianne and Rod moved back to Pennsylvania in 1995 where she began working at Hills Imports Inc. She loved to play golf and had a great passion for cooking. After her husband’s passing in 2011, Dianne and her daughters became involved in charity work for pancreatic cancer and founded the Teed Off At Cancer Charity Golf Tournament. Later on in life she was a resident of Moore, SC and enjoyed afternoon lunch excursions and Bunco games with the ladies of her neighborhood.
She is survived by her daughters Lisa Suzanne Sikes and Anitra Dyan Winkler, her grandchildren Travis Hutchinson (Joanna), Eric Sikes, Mason and Trinity Winkler, and great-grandchildren Eason and Everly Hutchinson. Sisters Rebecca June Carroll, Karen McMichael, and brother-in-law Gaylan Schmidt as well as numerous cousins and extended family.
Dianne is preceded in death by her husband, Rodney Buffington, sister Fay Schmidt, brothers Danny Sowell and Tim Faircloth (“Fat Cat”), and her beloved designer cats Oscar and Coco.
During her life she touched many lives from all over the world through her travels and her charity work. She was a loving wife, devoted mother, loyal sister, doting grandmother, and dedicated friend.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in both Pennsylvania and Georgia so that all who knew and loved her may attend.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Lung Association or plant flowers or a tree in her memory.