Wilma Dixon

WILMA P. DIXON, 83 ROCKFORD - Wilma P. Dixon, 83, passed from this life into eternal life with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, after a long illness. On July 3, 1927, she was the first born to Albert Ray and Alma May (Engelbert) Pearce on a farm in Mound Valley, Kan., where she lived and worked with her family. She graduated from Labette County High School, Altamont, Kan., in 1945 and married Willis E. Dixon on June 2, 1946. In 1950 the couple moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where they attended Open Bible Institute. Wilma graduated in 1953 and Willis in 1954. In 1954 they accepted their first pastorate in Seneca, Neb. This was the beginning of their church pastoral ministry in Anselmo, Neb., in Howard and Sturgis, S.D., and in Dixon. As a couple, they were in active pastoral ministry for more than 25 years and have held credentials with Open Bible churches for more than 56 years. In 1970 she became the first female dispatcher for the city of Dixon and the Lee County Law Enforcement Center. After the dispatcher position, she was employed as the activities director at Lee County Nursing Home until 1979 when they moved to Rockford and she became the activities director for Fairhaven Christian Home where she worked until she retired in September 1994. In October 1994 through October 1995, she and Willis spent a year in Papua New Guinea as missionaries for Open Bible Missions. From 1996 through 2009 the couple spent their winters in Homestead, Fla., as staff of Camp Freedom campgrounds. Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Willis; children, Norman (Linda) Dixon of Des Moines, Wymetta (Andrew) Crull of Machesney Park, Michelle (Jim) Frey and Mardelle (Robert) Slain, both of Dixon, and Marlis (Patrick) Rushing of Caledonia; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters, Wanda Myers of Oswego, Kan., and Edna Sourk of Lenexa, Kan. Predeceased by her parents, and brother, Delbert Pearce. Service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7, in Open Bible Church, 8567 Town Hall Road, Belvidere, with visitation from 10 a.m. to time of service. Visitation also from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 6, at Honquest Family Funeral Home, Rockford Chapel, 4311 N. Mulford Road. Burial in Chapel Hill Cemetery, Dixon. To express condolences or share a memory, visit honquestfh.com.