John Garner Dicken, Jr., saved Jessie B. Jackson from being struck by a train, Tucson, Arizona, February 26, 1975. Mrs. Jackson, 64, was unable to move her sedan when one of its wheels went off the planks of a railroad crossing to a position between the rails of a track on which a freight train was approaching. Frozen with fear, she remained in her seat as the train proceeded toward the crossing at decreasing speed, the engineer having applied emergency braking. Dicken, 32, minister, ran onto the track and reached the sedan when the train was about 300 feet away. Opening the vehicle’s door, Dicken grasped Mrs. Jackson and pulled her from the automobile. She fell, but Dicken dragged her from the track before the train struck the sedan and then stopped about 1,500 feet farther on.
54510 – 6194
54510-6194Obituary
John G. “Buddy” Dicken, Jr., 79, passed away Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at his home surrounded by family.
He was born September 14, 1942 in Indianapolis, to John G. and Evelyn D. (Miller) Dicken, Sr. They preceded him in death.
On February 15, 1964, he married Sandra Hudson.
She survives along with five children, Michael (Mary) Dicken, Goshen, Rachel (Kevin) Bee, Winamac, David E. (Nancy) Dicken, Tucson, Arizona, Laura (Paul) Church, Cape May, New Jersey, and Elizabeth (Michael) Kleeberger, Gallup, New Mexico; 29 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and a brother, Steven (Nancy) Dicken, Tucson, Arizona.
Pastor Dicken received his Doctorate of Ministry from Arizona Christian University. In 1970 he was ordained in Spiceland, Indiana. He ministered in the Baptist Church for more than 58 years prior to retirement.
He received a Carnegie Medal in 1975 for saving a person from being hit by a train. A member of Grace Bible Baptist Church, New Paris, John continued to minister as a chaplain for the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department from 2009 thru 2014.
https://obituaries.goshennews.com/obituary/john-dicken-jr-1084024480