ORIE THEODORE DINKINS JR.

06/27/1945 - 08/26/2023

Orie Theodore (Ted) Dinkins, Jr., 78, departed this Earth on August 26, 2023, after a prolonged but valiant battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

A proud native of Texas, Ted was born in Houston, Texas, on June 27, 1945, and spent his early years in Tomball and Trinity, Texas. He moved to Livingston, Texas, where he graduated from Livingston High School. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin in 1966, followed by his Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law in 1969.

Ted was known for his sharp mind and keen wit. His stories of his upbringing in East Texas were legendary, as was his charming East Texas drawl, about which one of his friends quipped, “He could draw out his three-letter name into the next county”.

Ted was proud to have been a Partner with the law firm Butler, Binion, Rice, Cook & Knapp where he specialized in probate litigation. It was there that he litigated his most well-known case, as the attorney ad litem by court appointment representing the unknown heirs of the estate of Howard Hughes. In 1985, Ted, with his esteemed colleagues Linda Kelly, Judy Lenox, and Randall Lamb, founded the law firm of Dinkins, Kelly, Lenox & Lamb. In 1993, he moved to Brenham, Texas, where he opened his solo law practice and resided until his passing.

Ted was instrumental in the restoration of historic downtown Brenham, investing in and restoring several historic buildings. He served as Treasurer of the “Save Our Simon” foundation to redevelop the Simon Theater. He personally invested in and restored the Farmers National Bank Building, circa 1870, and the Shipman Building, circa 1848.

Ted was a loyal friend, father, and grandfather. His memory will be cherished by his loving daughters, Anne Dinkins Briggs and Amy Dinkins Allen, son-in-law Joseph Allen, along with his four grandchildren, Garrett Theodore Briggs, Beck Parker Briggs, Victoria Grace Allen, and Nathaniel Preston Allen. Ted also leaves behind his cousin, Cheryl Jackson, close friend, Cathy Lewis, and former wife, Carol Eggert Dinkins. Ted is preceded in death by his parents, Orie Theodore Dinkins, Sr. and Verna Victoria May.

Friends are invited to a visitation Fri., Sept. 1, 3pm to 6pm, at Cochran Funeral Home in Livingston, Texas.

A final viewing and funeral service will be held on Sat., Sept. 2nd at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brenham, Texas (305 W. Third St.). The final visitation will be held from 9am to 10am, followed by a funeral service at 10am. A reception will immediately follow the service.

The interment and graveside service will be held at Evans Chapel Cemetery in Leona, Texas, at 2:30pm on Sat., Sept. 2nd.

For those desiring, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at https://www. pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ or St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at https://www. stpaulsbrenham.org/give. Online condolences may be offered at https://www. cochranfh.com/obits.