Lynne Randall Dillingham

Lynne Randall Dillingham was born on June 2, 1943 in Newark, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Thomas and Beatrice Bowie. Lynne passed away peacefully on May 21, 2026 surrounded by her loving family. Lynne was 82 and lived a full, rich and rewarding life.

She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Gerald Luchessi as well as her daughter Dr. Rebecca Dillingham and her husband Colin Learmonth and their children Forcey and Georgianna of Charlottesville, Virginia and her son Randall Dillingham and his wife Myroslava and their children Miranda, Scarlett, and Thomas of Oberhaching, Germany. She is also survived by her step-son Alan Luchessi of Interior South dakota and her dog, Brandy.

Lynne's early and formative years were spent in Newark and Montclair, New Jersey. Lynne attended Smith College and Upsala College where she earned her undergraduate degree in English in 1965. She later attended Tufts University earning a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1966.

Her early teaching career included teaching high school English, French, and Latin in Vermont and English and Journalism in Massachusetts. In 1971, she moved to Columbia, Missouri. Lynne taught in the Columbia Public Schools for 28 years at Blue Ridge, New Haven, and West Boulevard Elementary schools as a reading specialist.

Lynne retired from Columbia Public Schools in 2001 and embarked on a new adventure. She accepted a position with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) in Bitburg, Germany, also as a reading teacher. This afforded Lynne the opportunity to be closer to her son Randall and his family. She also took the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe and beyond.

Lynne loved children and was a dedicated and patient teacher, She spent most of her professional career assisting children who needed one-on-one instruction to overcome difficulties in reading.

Besides her passion for reading and teaching, Lynne had wanderlust. Joined by her husband Gerald in 2003, the pair spent ten wonderful years seeing as much of Europe as possible before Lynne retired for a second and final time in 2013.

The expatriates along with their devoted dog, Beija, returned home and Lynne adapted well to retirement. She became involved in three reading groups, attended retired teacher activities, enjoyed meetings of the Daughters of the American Revolution chapter, and engaged in church activities at Calvary Episcopal Church. She also served as a part time election commissioner. Lynne and Jerry continued to travel to spend time with family around the country and in Germany.

A Celebration of Life service honoring Lynne will be held at 10:30am on Monday, August 17, 2026 at Calvary Episcopal Church (123 South Ninth St. Columbia, MO 65201). A reception will be held in the Parish Hall immediately following interment in the Memorial Garden.

The service will also be live streamed through the Calvary website (calvaryonninth.org).

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to a charity of your choice in Lynne's name or to the Calvary Episcopal Church.