Jean Dinning, who wrote ‘Teen Angel,' dies at 86

 

Jean Dinning, who wrote the tragic tale "Teen Angel" that became a No. 1 hit in 1959, has died. She was 86.

Dinning died Feb. 22, said her daughter, Cynthia Wygal. Dinning had been staying at Wygal's Garden Grove home under hospice care for complications from a respiratory infection.

"Teen Angel" was the story of a girl who dies after going back to a car stalled on railroad tracks to get her boyfriend's high school ring. Dinning's brother, Mark, performed the song, which was No. 1 on Billboard magazine's charts in December 1959. Above is a video of Mark Dinning from 1960.

Eugenia Dinning was born March 29, 1924, in Enid, Okla. She performed as one of the Dinning Sisters, who were popular particularly during the 1940s. She moved to Orange County about 10 years ago as her health declined, Wygal said.

 -- Keith Thursby

Comments

[RideThisBlackCowboy1953]

I had no idea either Mark Dinning-who died 25 years ago today-Mar.22,1986,
was deceased,nor that his sister and brother-in-law,Eugenia (Jean) Dinning
Surrey-who passed away Feb. 22,2011,the same day as a high school buddy-
and Lou Surrey,co-wrote Dinning's teen-ager tragedy tune,"Teen Angel" in
'59.(Of course,since I was just six that summer,I barely remember the song,but due to oldies radio,on which it remains a major request from folk
in the late 60's and 70's who were themselves teen-agers or twenty-some-
things then,I have frequently heard-AND IMMENSELY ENJOY-"Teen An-
gel" countless times.