Dean E. Best

View Video Tribute Dean E. Best, age 66, a lifelong resident of Edon, Ohio, died on Sunday, July 22, 2007, at his home in Edgerton, Ohio, after a brief illness.  Mr. Best was an auto body instructor at Four County Joint Vocational School, retiring in 1982 with twelve years of service.  He was also a self-employed metal fabricator and operated Best Way Systems for many years in Edon, Ohio.  He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Blakeslee, Ohio.  Mr. Best was an avid racer, competing throughout the tri-state area.  His racing career spanned from 1963 - 2003.  He began his career racing coups but made his biggest impact in the sprint car division.  He won the Tri-Sac Sprint Car Series Championship in 1976 with 13 feature wins of the 25 events.  He also won four features at other tracks that same year, totaling 17 feature wins.  He won the last track points title at Angola Motor Speedway that was held on dirt and then came back the following year to win the first feature race at the newly-paved surface at Angola. He won races at every track he competed on and set a three-mile six-lap dash record at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds track, a record that still stands today.  During his racing career, he raced against many future greats, including a young Jeff Gordon at the “Little 500" in Anderson, Indiana, and against Tim Richmond at Sandusky.  He was known as an advocate of safety and drove smooth and fast and was a winner in his last competitive year of racing in 2003. Dean Edward Best was born on September 22, 1940, near Edon, Ohio, the son of William Edward “W.E.” and Marie C. (Trausch) Best.  He married Diane K. Dangler on June 25, 1960, in Blakeslee, Ohio, and she survives. In addition to his wife, Mr. Best is survived by his mother, Marie C. Best, of Edon, Ohio, two sons, Joel Dean (Jodie) Best, of Blakeslee, Ohio, and Jeremy T. (Jennifer) Best, of Convoy, Ohio, two daughters, Deena L. Best, of Bryan, Ohio, and Elizabeth E. (Jeffrey) Smith, of Valdosta, Georgia, thirteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by five brothers, Steven (Linda) Best, Gary (Reta) Best, Kevin Best, all of Edon, Ohio, Jerry Best and Michael Best, both of Sarasota, Florida, and seven sisters, Marilyn Best, of Ocala, Florida, Linda (George) Clark and Cheryl (Denny) Myers, both of Auburn, Indiana, Sharon Best, of Mishawauka, Indiana, Patricia (Jim) Keiss and LuAnn Smith, both of Edon, Ohio, and Kathy (Denny) Fee, of Hamilton, Indiana.  He was preceded in death by his father and one infant daughter, Jennifer Best.  Services for Dean E. Best will be on Thursday, July 26, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Stephen Schroeder officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery near Blakeslee, Ohio.  Visitation will be in the Krill Funeral Home, Edon, Ohio, after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, with a scripture service to be conducted at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. In lieu of floral contributions, memorials in the name of Dean E. Best may sent to Victory Junction Gang Camp, 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, North Carolina 27317.