Mildred Diane Pless Singleton of Bloomington passed away on Monday, January 23rd. Diane was born on November 21, 1954 in Bedford, Indiana to Forrest Pless and Elizabeth Pless Eldridge. Diane attended Earlham College, where she met Earl, her husband of 36 years, and Indiana University, graduating with a degree in English.
Diane's quiet speaking voice and modest demeanor were misleading. She followed her own unusual and courageous path through life. She had a wonderful laugh, a beautiful soprano voice, and an ever present sense of humor. She was intelligent, funny, kind, and loving, and she leaves many people very sad that they will not have the chance for another conversation with her. Whatever was going on in Diane's life was secondary to what was going on in yours. She remembered details about friends, and their children, that they had forgotten themselves. As one friend put it, "Whenever I saw Diane, she was present with me in such a profound way."
Diane was almost never without her reading glasses and a book, and her tastes were broad and eclectic. She devoured poetry, history, novels and the daily papers, in fact, almost anything in print that was worth reading. And she didn't just read, she remembered. At a recent New Year's Eve party where guests were requested to bring a brief passage on a theme to read aloud, Diane recited a multi-stanza poem by Tennyson from memory, putting everyone else who had toted along volumes and scraps of paper to shame. Diane was also a talented writer. She attended an IU Writer's workshop one summer a number of years ago and was one of the few chosen to present a reading at Border's, where she read one of her short stories to much audience acclaim.
One of Diane's best known quirks was her love of all things English. Tea, both the drink and the ritual, tea pots and cups, and the usual edible accompaniments were at the top of her list--shortbread, scones, cakes and jam, and yes, fruitcake that she made herself. (It was amazingly good, even for fruitcake haters.) After tea and baking, it was English literature and the English language, particularly the version spoken across the pond. In the last few years, Diane discovered the joys (and pains) of Twitter and Facebook, and the union of her tea mania and the world's electronic capabilities was magical. She had many followers on Twitter (handle was Milldewpea) and many Facebook friends who formed a kind of club for sharing tea tips, pictures of their latest tea cakes and Britishisms. Many of them thought she was British herself. She delighted in the fact that UK followers would ask what on earth she was doing, Luv, Tweeting in the middle of the night.
Diane's family and friends know she is in a better place now, drinking tea, sharing funny stories and reading with friends and relatives who went before her. They should know that they can eat the fruitcake without worry.
Diane is survived by her husband, Earl Singleton, daughter, Alexandra (Bryan Blackmore) of Boston, MA, son Andrew (Jenny Vander Zee Singleton), her mother, Elizabeth Eldridge, her brother, Dana Pless (Sharon) Sewickly, PA, nephew David Pless, former sister-in-law, Cindy Pinkerton and two beloved granddaughters, Emmaline Blackmore and Madeline Singleton.

For those who want to honor Diane's memory you may make contributions of whatever kind to the Inter-faith Winter Shelter program, the Community Kitchen, Trinity Episcopal Church's Pastoral Care committee.

Visitation shall occur on Friday January 27, 2012 at Day Funeral Home between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The funeral shall take place on Saturday January 28, 2012 at Trinity Episcopal Church starting at 2:00 p.m.