Dinesh Chandra Mehta

Dinesh was born on June 5, 1945 in Modasa, India. He grew up in Rajkot, Kathiawar, Gujarat, the third son of Lallubhai and Mahalaxmiben Mehta. Dinesh graduated with a B. Tech from the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology in Nagpur in 1967. Dinesh came to the United States to study at the University of Texas at Austin later that year, as an early pioneer in establishing the Indian diaspora in the US following LBJ’s Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. After receiving his M.S. in 1969, Dinesh joined with Mobil Oil, and held various roles at Mobil and its successor, ExxonMobil, over the next 40 years.

Together with his wife, Raksha, he was devoted to his family. Dinesh was a loving father to his two sons, Neil and Raaj. He welcomed two daughters-in-law, Riddhima and Geneva, into the family like his own daughters. And, he took boundless joy in welcoming two grandchildren, Rayaan (20 months) and Julian (2 months). He was most looking forward to meeting Julian for the second time when he passed.

Dinesh also loved his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews deeply. He helped many of his family to study in the US – 5 of whom chose to remain and establish their own families here. He treasured every opportunity to be back with his family in India.

Dinesh loved to celebrate – and was a selfless host. He brought an engineer’s attention to detail and a spirit of generosity to every event. He also was an armchair philosopher – and loved to read and think deeply. With a dose of humor, he challenged everyone to reflect.

Dinesh loved nature, especially the spring, and took great joy in the cherry blossoms and other trees around his home in Virginia. We pray he has found eternal springtime.