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Fred Dillon Obituary
Fred Dillon, 79, passed away at his residence after a diligent battle with cancer on Saturday, June 2, 2007, with family at his bedside. He was a Church of Christ minister. For the last several years, he ministered to the elderly and infirmed in the Shoals area. He previously served as the minister of Woodlawn and Stewartsville Churches of Christ and was the first director of the Christian Student Fellowship at UNA.
Earlier, he was the editor of the Florence Times-Tri-Cities Daily, sports reporter with the Daily Corinthian in Corinth, Miss., and sports announcer for WCMA radio.
He was a veteran with an honorable discharge from both the Air Force and the Army and served as a sergeant during the Korean War. During his military service, he was a Golden Glove Boxer known as "The Fighting Irishman."
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Roberta Dillon; his brothers, Dick, Jack, Jim, Herbert, Bennie; and sister, Sadie Babb.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years in November, Mary Nelle Butler Dillon, of Florence; sons, Kevin Dillon (Barbara), of Florence, Kelly O'Neil Dillon (Paula), of Killen; his grandchildren (who affectionately called him "Pappaw"), Krista Dillon Race, of Tuscumbia, Richard Dillon, of Florence, Alyssa Dillon, of Florence; great-grandchildren, Chance and Dominick Race, of Tuscumbia; brothers and sisters, Daniel Boone Dillon, of Norwood, Colo., Beverly Dillon Ross, of Vernal, Utah, David Dillon, of Craig, Colo., Dennis Dillon, of Odessa, Texas; nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be deacons of Wood Avenue Church of Christ.
Honorary bearers will be Kenneth Davis, Claude Junior Wood, Glenn Dupuy, Wayne Gean, Hill Sparks, J.E. Edmond, Frederick Clemmons, David Dowdy, Nolan Burns, Terry Michael, Miles Stutts, Naaman Goode and James Phillips.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the charities of choice.
The Dillons express thanks to Robert Ford, LPN, staff of Wiregrass Hospice, Dr. Daugherty and Dr. Patel and to Elkins Funeral Home, Florence, for assisting the family.
Please join us in celebrating our loved one's life by visiting our Memorial at www.mem.com. Through the personal Guest Book on this site, we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Billy and Shirley Wooten
June 14, 2007
We will always cherish the friendship and wonderful memories we have of Brother Dillon. He was a wonderful Christian man. May God bless this wonderful family.
Marjorie Pickle
June 12, 2007
AFTER I'M GONE
I was only here for a little while,
To laugh, to play, to share a smile
I left a note or two in song~~
For you, after I'm gone.
Oh, the opportunities I did waste
Doing needless things in haste,
But, left a legacy in song~~
For you, after I'm gone.
Remember the good I taught,
In word and deed and thought.
Share the feeling left in song~~
For you, after I'm gone.
Life was not always kind,
At times I was of weary mind,
But leave behind notes in song~~
For you, after I'm gone.
Don't fret for me or grieve,
When time has come for me to leave
Just smile and sing a happy song~~
For me, after I'm gone.
Marjorie Butler Pickle
6-10-07
Sister-in-Law to Fred
Mary Nelle's Sister
TINA BUTLER
June 8, 2007
BROTHER DILLON ALSO HAD HUGE IMPACT ON ME AND MY FAMILY GROWING UP IN CLOVERDALE. HE BAPTIZED ME AND MY THREE SISTERS, AND WAS SUCH AN INSPRITATION TO US. BROTHER DILLON IN LATER YEARS MARRIED ALL FOUR OF US GIRLS THE LAST ONE JUNE 01. WE LOVED HIM DEARLY. THE SHARP GIRLS FROM CLOVERDALE
Cathy Oliver
June 8, 2007
Brother Fred had a huge impact on my life starting as a young girl at Stewartsville Church of Christ where I was baptized by him. Mary Nell taught my Sunday school class and I grew up with Kevin & Kelly. Many years later he performed my wedding ceremoney and held the funeral for both my parents and many other dear loved ones. He wrote a poem for my dad on his 90th birthday (he told me that he wrote it in about 15 minutes) that my family and I still cherish. He always greeted me with a hug and a kiss and told me he loved me. I've never known a more Christ like person and I'll never forget him and am so thankful I knew him and the Dillon family.
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Ronnie Thomas
June 7, 2007
I first met Fred in 1965 at the TimesDaily, when I was a struggling reporter (still am) and he was an editor. Fred taught me a great deal about the newspaper business, but most importantly, he taught me lessons of life that will remain with me always. I was so happy that I got to chat with Fred last summer at a reunion of TimesDaily employees and, once more, hear a sweet prayer from a kind and caring man. My sympathies are with the family. God bless Fred Dillon.
Kristi Holland
June 5, 2007
From the experience my family had with Brother Dillon he was such a kind and warm man.He preformed the wedding ceremony for my sister in law at my home and made the day an unforgettable one.His granddaughter Krista Dillon Race and her children are close family friends and our hearts and sympathys are with her family who i know are greiving at this sad time.
Della (Smothermon) Cook
June 5, 2007
Bro. Dillon was a very special person and will be greatly missed by many!
Our prayers are with you all during this most difficult time.
In Him,
Charlie West
June 5, 2007
Kevin, Barbara, and family. We were saddened to hear of your loss. Kevin, your father had a great influence on my life as a freshman at UNA. Overall, you know the rest of the story. I shall forever be indebted for his teaching, kindness, and friendship at a time when I really needed his support. God bless you all. Charlie, Dolores, and David West
Holly Hollman
June 5, 2007
Every time I saw Mr. Dillon, I thought, "He is such a gentleman."
And of course Mommma always appreciated how he came by to see her when he preached at the nursing home. Daddy always loved the story he told about Kevin sawing a limb in a tree but sawing on the wrong end and falling with it. I appreciate all the family did for us when Daddy died, and I hope you know how much that meant to us.
Glenn Sparks
June 5, 2007
Fred Dillon was a great Christian man.He was always there for me when I lost my Mom and Dad. He will greatly missed.
james senn
June 5, 2007
I am blessed to have heard him preach and watch him work so diligently for the Lord. He left a great example for christians to follow. Bro. Fred brought joy in so many lives and his jokes and french harp playing were always entertaining. He was a giant servant and he was respected by people of many faiths. Mary Nell, we are praying for you and your family. I am sure we will see him again.
Kenny Cabler
June 5, 2007
It times like this that I wish I had just some of the talent Brother Dillon possessed in great quantities of putting my feelings into words and expressing them so very eloquently. I had the honor and priviledge of knowing Brother Dillon for the past 40 years and I have never known anyone that was more kind, loving and precious as this man. I can honestly say that in all the years that I knew him, I never heard him say an unkind thing about anyone. He was the type of Christian that all of us could immulate and never come close to filling his shoes. I loved him and will miss him and will never forget him. My heart is breaking but I know that he has gone on to receive the reward promised to all who are faithful to Him. May God Bless you Brother Dillon and grant you rest in Him. Our prayers are with all his sweet and loving family who he loved so much and had that loved returned in full measure.
From your loving friend and Brother in Christ,
Kenny
SUSAN MCCORD
June 5, 2007
KELLY AND PAULA, SADDENED TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS..MR DILLON BECAME A GOOD FRIEND OF MY FAMILY IN THE LATE 1940's, WHEN HE WORKED FOR THE NEWSPAPER, AND MY DAD WAS A STATE TROOPER..HE EVENTUALLY PREACHED BOTH MY DAD's (1979) AND MOTHER's (2001) FUNERALS..HE WAS THERE EVERY TIME WE CALLED ON HIM, AND I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF HIM THROUGHOUT THE YEARS..WE WILL SEE HIM AGAIN IN HEAVEN..KEEPING YOUR FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS..
SUSAN MCCORD.
Jackie & Dodie Davis Chasity & Leonard Nichols
June 5, 2007
We are sorry to hear about Brother Dillon. He was a wonderful person. He had a way of lifting people up & brightening the darkest of days. He will be greatly missed. You all are in our thoughts & prayers.
Larry Montgomery
June 5, 2007
My thoughts and prayers are with you. The work of Brother Fred is a wonderful testimony of his life which was a blessing to so many and to the glory of God whom he served so faithfully.
Dr. Bobby Roberson
June 5, 2007
Fred Dillon was a great man who lived a Christian life. I met Fred when my mom was a resident at Mitchell-Hollingsworth from 1999 until 2003. Even though my family worships in the Christian faith of the Methodist Church, Fred always stopped by to check on mom and to offer his prayers. He was a nice person, a man with a kind word and a smile for everyone. He will be missed by many -- but especially by those at the nursing homes where he dedicated the later years of his life. More people should use Fred as an example.
James and Mary Harris
June 5, 2007
You Are in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Brother Dillon will be greatly missed by all of those who knew him.Kevin and Barbara we Love you May God bless you in your loss. James and Mary Harris
Sandra & Neil Morris
June 5, 2007
We met Fred in the late 50's when working at the Times/Daily. He was a great inspiration to many people in his ministry of the Gospel of Christ. We are thankful to have known Fred and will always remember his smile.
Steve and Debra McMurtrey
June 5, 2007
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Charles Swindle
June 5, 2007
Fred was a great person. I am sure he will see him again. May the God of comfort comfort you at this time. Charles and Sheila Swindle
sonny Bogus
June 5, 2007
Brother Dillon touched many lives in many different ways. His influence will continue to live. Our prayers are with you, his family, --Sonny and Janie Bogus
PeteAndConnie Winborn
June 5, 2007
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
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1535 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL 35630
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