Diane Hanson Stanton, 1948-2021
It is with a heavy heart that we share with you that Kellermann Foundation Executive Director, Diane Stanton, departed this life on June 27, 2021, with her family by her side. Diane was diagnosed in March with what seemed to be a treatable form of lung cancer. After significant attempts with two protocols of treatments that did not produce results, Diane elected to transition to a beautiful hospice center where she could be made comfortable and spend quality time with her family.
The following is the obituary for Diane Hanson Stanton, published by the Dallas Morning News, on July 6, 2021.
Diane Louise (Hanson) Stanton died on June 27, 2021, at the age of 73, after a brief battle with an advanced stage of lung cancer. She received excellent care and treatment from the medical team at UTSW, and found rest and relief in her final days at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center. Diane is survived by her husband, the Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton ("Jim"), retired Episcopal Bishop of Dallas; her daughter, Jennifer Stanton Hargrave and husband, Jeffrey, of Dallas, TX, and their children, William, Weston and Evellyn; and her son, Justin M. Stanton and his wife, Elise, of Richmond, TX, and their children, James, Lizzie and Ella. Diane was born on May 12, 1948, to Donald E. Hanson, Sr. and Dorothy Louise (Hodges) Hanson in Glendale, CA. She is the third of six children, and is survived by four of her siblings.. Her oldest brother, Donald E. Hanson, Jr., predeceased her.
Canon Carrie Boren Headington from The Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, wrote the following regarding Diane:
In 1994, the late Archbishop of Uganda, the Most Reverend Livingstone Nkoyoyo, asked Diane to help resettle thousands of Batwa pygmies who had been evicted from their home in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. With courage and faith, Diane agreed to take on this project, and spent 27 years marshalling support for this work that has resulted in the building of schools, an economic development program, an award-winning hospital and nursing school, serving the Batwa people and others in this region. This project expanded beyond Diane’s individual work, becoming truly collaborative in nature. Through divine intervention, Diane became acquainted with Dr. Scott Kellermann, a medical doctor specializing in tropical medicine. Dr. Kellermann, and his wife Carol, witnessed the plight of the Batwas, moved to Bwindi, and founded the Kellermann Foundation.
Stanton served for 12 years as the Executive Director of Uganda Christian University Partners, where she helped develop a highly rated major university located near the capital city of Kampala in Mukono. Ultimately, these experiences paved the way for what would become her life mission, bringing health, education and hope to the people of Uganda.
Her work with the Batwa garnered international recognition. In 2014, Diane received the Women Who Give Hope by Chiapas International. In 2019, Diane received The Archbishop Michael Ramsey Award from Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin, along with the Kellermanns. On June 7, she delighted in news that the Bwindi Community Hospital received the Prince Albert of Monaco prize for “saving patients and the planet.” Her work was never about receiving personal recognition.
Her mission in life was simply to share the love of Jesus Christ with others, including the Batwa people. One of her dear Batwa friends told her that their Batwa legend taught them that they were the forgotten people, but that through the work of Diane and the Kellermann Foundation, they now knew that God did not forget about them after all.
The memorial service to celebrate the life of Diane Stanton was held on Tuesday, July 6th at 2:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75204. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Kellermann Foundation, PO Box 832809, Richardson, TX 75083, and/or to the Diane Stanton Mission Award, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, 5100 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75206, and/or to the Incarnation Foundation, 3966 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204. The recorded service may also be watched via livestream at this link.
About the Archbishop Michael Ramsey Award:
During his retirement, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey (years) spent several academic terms at Nashotah House, where he was much beloved by students. A first-floor flat was designated "Lambeth West" for his personal use, in honor of Lambeth Palace, the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. A stained-glass window in the Chapel bears his image and the same inscription as is on the memorial near his grave. The window (placed in the chapel by the class of 1976 who were among his first students at Nashotah House) also includes a miniature image of the Bishop and his wife Joan. Ramsey Hall at Nashotah House was named in his honor, and is a residence for students and their families. The Board of Directors of Nashotah House also presents, from time to time, the Michael Ramsey award for distinguished mission or ecumenical service in the Anglican Communion.