Two years later, on May 30, 1966, Memorial Day, they were married in a modest ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.
Dean was a successful businessman who had a Nashville asphalt paving company. Three children were born to Virginia “Ginny” Bates Dean and Edgar.
“Ed” Henry Dean. The nickname Parton had for his mother was “Mama Dean.” Parton and his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie, survive Dean.
He was the source of Parton’s iconic song “Jolene.” According to Parton’s 2008 interview with NPR, the song was inspired by a flirtatious bank teller who seemed to be interested in Dean.
“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” she said. And since she gave him so much attention, he just enjoyed visiting the bank. I used to comment, “Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank,”
As if it were an ongoing joke between us. We don’t have that type of money, in my opinion. It sounds terrible, but it’s really a quite harmless tune overall.
