Diane Tarpley Pinkstaff, age 94 of DuQuoin and formerly of Sumner, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at DuQuoin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Diane Tarpley Pinkstaff, age 94 of DuQuoin and formerly of Sumner, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at DuQuoin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was the only child of John Ogle Tarpley and his wife Lela Gladys (Malone) and was born in Bridgeport on January 8, 1932.
On August 13, 1949, Diane married Paul Foss Pinkstaff in Franklin, KY. Together, they raised their three daughters (Sally, Susan, and Nancy), worked hard, and loved each other. Paul preceded Diane in death on November 22, 2020.
She had been a member of Beulah United Methodist Church, enjoyed knitting, and loved to cook. Diane devoted much or her time to making sure Nancy and others made it to Workshop and anywhere else they needed to be. She was truly a caretaker by nature.
Those left to remember Diane and carry on her loving legacy include: her two daughters- Sally McDaniel and husband Alan of Palestine and Susan Mays of DuQuoin; five granddaughters- Jerri Rusch and husband Larry, Jacque Gardner and husband Joe, Kristi Bechtold and husband Rob, Kari Craig and husband Geoffrey, and Kassi Peterson and husband Kevin; two step-granddaughters; her beloved great-grandchildren, step great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and step great-great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law- Kay Pinkstaff of Morris.
She was preceded in death by: her father- John Tarpley; her mother- Gladys Gillespie; step father- Freeman Gillespie; husband- Paul Pinkstaff; one daughter- Nancy Pinkstaff; one son-in-law- Johnnie Mays; two brothers-in-law- Charles Pinkstaff and Bob Pinkstaff; two sisters-in-law- Betty Borden and Donna Pinkstaff; and one grandson in infancy.
A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Cunningham Funeral Home in Bridgeport. Graveside services will follow at 1:30 p.m. in Bridgeport City Cemetery.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.cunninghamfuneralhomes.com.
