Guy Edwin Dixon

DIXON, GUY EDWIN, 93, aviator, inventor and entrepreneur, passed away quietly on March 6, 2014, at his home in Miami Lakes, Florida, surrounded by family. Born in Hendersonville, NC, on August 21, 1920, to Nora Alexander Dixon and Dr. Guy E. Dixon, Guy, as a young teenager, developed a love of flying. He built the first airplane he ever flew, soloed at age 16 and worked at the grass field airport in Hendersonville. At age 19, he became the youngest flight instructor for the US Army Air Corps and, while stationed in Sikeston, MO, met Adagene Bowman, to whom he was married until her death in 2011 - a marriage of 70 years. In 1942, Guy and Adagene moved to Miami where they built a home and raised their family. He became a pilot for Eastern Air Lines, flying under contract for the Army Air Corps Military Transport Division to South America and Africa during World War II and continuing as a captain for Eastern for 25 years. He had started his flying career with open-cockpit planes and ended it flying the Boeing 727 Whisperjet. Many years before retiring from Eastern, Guy had started the business that became his second career. He invented and patented the first folding doors to utilize full height flexible hinges and, in 1953, founded Panelfold, Inc. in Miami. Additional inventions relating to folding doors, accordion partitions and operable walls led to hundreds of worldwide patents and trademarks and the manufacture of Panelfold products in 60 countries. In 1971, the company received the U.S. President's E-Award, and, in 1986, the E-Star Award for Panelfold's excellence in exporting. The latter award was presented to Guy by President Reagan in the Rose Garden at the White House. Today, the company is owned by second and third generations of the Dixon family. Over the years, Panelfold has provided employment for tens of thousands of residents in South Florida and elsewhere. Guy and Adagene traveled extensively, both for business and for pleasure. Their last major trip was a circumnavigation cruise in 1990. Looking toward retirement, in 1984, they had built their oceanfront dream home at the Ocean Reef Club in the Florida Keys, where they lived until they moved to Miami Lakes in 2006 to be closer to family. In addition to his parents, Guy was predeceased by his sisters Dessie Dixon Lupo, Jean Dixon Graham and Jane Dixon Brown. He is survived by his son, Guy Dixon, III, daughter Beth Dixon Geyer, son-in-law Russ Geyer, Jr.; grandchildren, Zachary, Luke and Emily Dixon (Chad Burton), Elizabeth Geyer Cuba (Eliecer) and Russ Geyer, III (Tammy), great grandchildren, Stephanie Padron and Amelia and Erick Geyer; as well as his brothers, Tom Dixon and Frank Dixon, sister, Becky Dixon Friedman and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family is grateful beyond words to Marcia Leslie, who has been the accomplished and devoted caregiver of both Adagene and Guy for nearly nine years; and to his other caregivers, Myrna Wiltshire, Veronica Whyte, Estella Brown, Zaccheus Allen and Paul Jones. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In place of flowers, the family requests remembrances to the National Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131; Friends of Miami -Dade Public Libraries/Talking Books, 2455 NW 183rd Street, Miami, FL 33056, or the organization of your choice.