Lester Dixon

LESTER DIXON
Clarence Lester Dixon, 85, passed away Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 at Hospice of Wendover. He was born May 22, 1930, in Gaston County, to the late Henry Warlick Dixon and Julia Irene Harris Dixon.
He was a lifelong member of Friendship United Methodist Church in Fallston. A graduate of Fallston High School, where he was a member of the Flying Five Basketball team, he went on to graduate from Appalachian State University with a Master's Degree in Education. He served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict.
He taught at Cherryville High School before teaching for twenty-seven years at Shelby Junior High School, where he taught Physical Science and PE and coached football, basketball and baseball. He was inducted into the Cleveland County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Affectionately known as "Pop," he valued God, family, hard work and his country. His strong work ethic has been passed on to his children and grandchildren, and he will be remembered as a humble man of integrity.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Jorene (Jo) McSwain Dixon; a daughter, Cindy Strother and her husband Dennis of Red Springs; sons, Michael Dixon and wife Joy of Lawndale and Mark Dixon and wife Rhonda of Lattimore. He also is survived by grandchildren, Evan Dixon and his wife Sarah, Ethan Dixon, Emily Strother, Holly Strother, Darin Dixon, Dusty Dixon, Dawson Dixon, Nathan Pearson, Kendall Wesson and Kaitlyn Wesson; and one great-grandchild, Michael Carter Dixon. He is also survived by brothers-in-laws, Jim McSwain and his wife Peggy, Mac McSwain and his wife Brenda; sister Betty Falls and her husband Harold; and sister-in-law Dot Dixon; as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Boyd Dixon and his wife Beth, Robert Dixon and his wife Hazel and Charles Dixon; and a grandson, Dylan Dixon.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, at Stamey-Tysinger Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Fallston.
The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Friendship United Methodist Church with the Rev. Neal Bower, Rev. Terry Bevill and Chaplian Jim McSwain officiating.
The burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park, Fallston, with military graveside rites.
Memorials may be made to Friendship United Methodist Church, PO Box 219, Fallston, NC 28042, or Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150.
Online condolences may be made at www.stameytysingerfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Stamey-Tysinger Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Inc., Fallston.