DINA NEAL

Dina was born Aug. 9, 1945 in Gorman Texas, attended
Comanche public schools, thereafter the University of Texas
at Arlington on a partial scholarship for academics and as a
􀂿 re baton twirler.
She was married to Gary Greenwood, also a UTA student,
in 1964. Dina worked on Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama
City, Florida during the Vietnam War while Gary served in

the Air Force. She gave birth to her only child, Todd, in 1967.

Divorced in 1970, Dina returned to College at West Texas
State University in Canyon. She graduated magna cum
laude while working to support herself and son, then received her master’s degree,
graduating summa cum laude, from East Texas State University.
Dina instructed psychology, sociology, and human development at Vernon
College for 35 years where she taught tens of thousands of students. She enjoyed
the company of close friends in her backyard, travel, good wine, noir / espionage
novels, and a menagerie of pets to include cats, two dogs, goats and ducks.
She attended Grace Episcopal Church in Vernon where she was a lay reader.
Though not a licensed professional counselor she was known locally for the time
she made for victims of domestic violence.
Those close to her will tell you of the time in the late sixties she tried to pick
an argument with the grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan at a rally near Tyndall
and that she was one of the 􀂿 rst landlords to rent a house south of Texas Street in
Vernon to a black family. Dina was a lifetime Democrat and only broke ranks to
vote for Reagan in 1980.
She was preceded in death by her father, CB Baxter in 1966, her mother Julia
Jo Baxter in 1995, younger brother Cyrus in 2003, eldest sister Patricia Patton
in 2018, and older sister Tonelia in 1952. She is survived by next-eldest sister
Rebecca King of Amarillo and son Todd Greenwood of Fort Worth as well as many
extended family members, close friends, and former students she held dear.
A Chapel service will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the
Comanche Funeral Home with John Paul Welch o􀵶 ciating. Interment will occur
following the service at the Oakwood Cemetery. Condolences may be o􀵵 ered
online at www.comanchefh.com.