Diane Proud completed her long race on Friday, September 16th, following a three-year battle against ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Diane, age 59, was a world-ranked triathlete and the running pro at the Cooper Fitness Center in Dallas.
She was born September 17, 1951 in St. Joseph, Michigan, and had lived in Arkansas, Panama and Indiana prior to coming to Texas in 1978. She spent 15 wonderful years in El Paso, which she still considered “home”, before moving to Houston and later, Dallas. She lived a full and varied life, having at various stages been the lead singer of a rock band with a regional hit record, a photo and runway model, an employee of the Social Security Administration, and an executive with various non-profits including the American Heart Association and the Diabetes Association. Throughout, running, triathlon and duathon were her passion, and ultimately became her vocation after moving to Dallas in 1996. As a competitor, coach, and cohort, she touched innumerable lives and made countless friends.
Diane is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Bob; their son James Owen and his wife Clarissa Martinez of Portland, Oregon; her mother Myrtie Dewey, a sister Katrina and a brother Kenneth, all of Orlando Florida.
Visitation will be Monday September 19th from 6:00pm-8:00pm and services will be held Tuesday September 20th at 12:00 Noon at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway in Dallas.
