Worthington High Schools Alumni Club - Deceased Classmates
First Name
Dennis
Maiden Name
Last Name
Chiles
Passing Date
1/27/2018
Class Attended
1973
High School
Worthington High School
Dennis Michael Chiles, at age 62, passed from this life into the loving arms of his savior on January 27th, 2018 in his home in Monmouth. Dennis was born July 17, 1955 in Hamilton, Ohio to Darby and Joan Chiles. One of four children, he lived in Ohio where he first taught himself to play guitar. Music was his life long passion and he blessed countless others by it. Starting out as a high school student, he taught at the local music store. After moving to Upland, California with his family as a teen, Dennis traveled the country playing guitar and bass in various bands including the popular Bernard Upshaw Singers. He continued to play music and was inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King and Miles Davis. Throughout his life he always strived to improve his technique and share his love of music with others. In 1978, he married the love of his life Kathy. They attended Cal Poly University together and studied engineering. Dennis had many of his own bands and was a coveted addition to many others. He worked at Yamaha Corporation in Buena Park where he taught their professionals how to repair their electronic keyboards. In 1990, he and his family moved to Oregon where they built and enjoyed their family farm. He loved the country life and raising animals and was particularly fond of the playfulness of their baby goats. He continued his music and taught himself to play many different instruments. Dennis enjoyed recording on his own label, creating at least a dozen finished albums in which he played all of the instruments in the songs. He was published several times among professional music journals and wrote an educational book about guitars and music theory. He enjoyed playing at local events and gigs with his latest band, the Dennis Chiles Trio. He taught music through private lessons and inspired a countless number of people, young and old, to pursue the beauty he saw in music. He loved the Lord very much and strove to follow his word everyday. He was a talented painter and creative thinker. A very soulful, kindhearted and empathetic person, he was passionate and loving in the deepest way. He was a strong person and had a great sense of humor. He was and an incredibly talented musician and a true artist in every sense. More than that, he was a good loving father and friend. Dennis was preceded in death by his son David, his mother, and his beloved dog, Gordy. He is survived by his wife Kathy, their three daughters, April Angelica, Jami Platz and Kristin Chiles, two son-in-laws, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, his father, his sisters Cheri (Class of 1975) and Becky and his brother Chris (Class of 1972); all who loved him immensely.
