Ervin Lewis Dinsmore
Ervin Lewis Dinsmore, former Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety for the City of Chattanooga, died early Friday morning, July 14.
Ervin began his work with the Chattanooga Police Department as a patrolman in 1965 and worked his way up through the department. In May of 1989 he was named Chief of Police. In August of that same year he was named Commissioner of Fire and Police. Ervin was a supervisor in the Information Center and was part of a team instrumental in bringing 911 Emergency and Identification Services to Hamilton County. He retired from the City of Chattanooga in 1999.
Ervin graduated from Central High School and served in the United States Navy stationed in Hawaii. He studied at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga then graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and the Secret Service Training Academy in Washington, D.C. He remained active in the Fire and Police Department’s Forgotten Child Fund providing Christmas gifts for needy children. He loved gathering with his former colleagues for lunch.
Ervin is survived by his wife of 44 years, The Rev. Taylor W. Dinsmore, children Debbie Turley (George) of Chattanooga, Eric Dinsmore (Stephanie) of Orlando, Florida, Andrew Dinsmore (Jennifer) of Cleveland, Tennessee, Mary Dinsmore (Steven) of Chattanooga. Grandchildren: Spenser Turley of Japan, Alex Turley of Chattanooga, Cody Dinsmore, Makayla Dinsmore, Brooklyn Dinsmore of Orlando, Florida and Taylor Lynn Dinsmore of Cleveland, Tennessee. Special niece and nephews Mason (Kirby) Wright of Decatur, Georgia and Carter Ramsay of Louisville, Kentucky and Carl Ramsey of Chattanooga.
He is also survived by many friends and former colleagues in the Chattanooga Police Department, the Chattanooga Fire Department, parishioners from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan in Knoxville, Tennessee and St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church on Signal Mountain (and especially the 8:00 a.m. crowd!)
Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, Lorah Lee Dinsmore and Dana Carlos Dinsmore of Chattanooga, his sister, Betty Dinsmore Veller; son, Jeffery Scott Dinsmore and daughter, Belinda Lee Dinsmore.
Funeral services will be held on Aug. 4, at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Signal Mountain, Tn. A reception and receiving of friends will begin at 12:30 p.m in the parish hall and the service will begin at 2 p.m. with The Rev. Derrick Hill, the Rev. Kat Chappell and Bishop Brian Cole presiding. Interment may be announced at a later date.
Arrangements are by Cremation Center of Chattanooga, 1345 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.