By By Lydia Grimes
features reporter
Best known for his passion for helping children in need, local dentist Dr. Michael Anton Dasinger II passed away at his home Thursday surrounded by family members following a brief illness.
Dasinger had practiced dentistry in Brewton for the past 44 years and was known by many as the singing dentist, according to family members.
Earl Horton, a long time friend of Dasinger, said the dentist would be missed by many in the Brewton area.
Dasinger, a native of Union Springs and long time resident of Brewton, served in the U.S. Army as a medical lab specialist in 1954 and in the U.S. Army Reserve for eight years.
He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1958 and received his doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 1962. He practiced dentistry for 47 years serving most of them in Brewton.
Friends remembered him as being dedicated to his profession and having a passion for providing dental care to children who were less fortunate. Dasinger was known for many years to be the only dentist in Brewton who treated children covered by Medicaid.
Danny Joyner counted himself among the many friends of the dentist. He said he has lost a very good friend with the passing of Dasinger.
He was an active member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church and an avid Alabama football fan. He was a life member of the American Dental Association, a Master Mason and a member of Norris Lodge 301.
Dasinger is survived by his wife of 40 years, Joyce Ann Dasinger; seven children, Ruth Ann McCarty of Robertsdale; Shawn Levenson of Birmingham, John Koldewey of Brewton, Steven (Melissa) Dasinger of Pansey, Michael A. (Aleta) Dasinger III of Spanish Fort, Thomas ‘Tank’ (Janet) Dasinger of Point Clear, and Brian (Amy) Dasinger of Fairhope; a sister, Shirley Capps of Union Springs; a special nephew, John T. Morgan III of Brewton; a niece, Pamela Owen; and fourteen grandchildren, Beth, Kathryn and Jim Barnette, Alex and Kristen Koldeway, Garrett and Sarah Dasinger, Chloe and Noah Dasinger, Caroline Catherine and Ava Dasinger, Abigail and Luke Dasinger and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church with Father Gary Baldwin and Father Chris Coates officiating and Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. Graveside services will be held at Dasinger-Pope Cemetery in Indian Creek, Ala., at 3 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Bob Hayes, Earl Horton, Danny Joyner, Hank Adam Locklin, Jimmie Maddox, John Morgan, Dr. Fred West, Jim Wright, and John Boohaker. Honorary pallbearers were James Deatherage, Sam Jordan, Charles Rushing, Kurt Schroder and Mike Watson.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund at St. Stephens, which will be used to help the needy, at 1510 Escambia Ave., Brewton, 36426; or to Wilmer Hall, an Episcopal children’s home that provides residential or transitional services to children, 3811 Old Shell Road, Mobile, 36608.