Wallis Dicks Cone Jr.

Obituary of Wallis Dicks Cone, Jr.

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Colonel (Retired USAF) Wallis Dicks Cone, Jr., 83, husband of Sandie Nelson Cone, died Thursday, September 18, 2025, at his home after an extended battle with dementia.

Born in Anniston, Alabama, he was the oldest son of the late Dr. Wallis Dicks Cone and Margaret Dickson Cone.

He was a graduate of Clemson University and received his Master of Science from St. Mary's University in San Antonio Texas.

Dicks served 25 years as a command pilot, finishing his distinguished Air Force career as the Director of Operations for the Flying Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where he commanded all flying operations at Training Command headquarters. At the beginning of his storied career, he was quickly qualified in the RF-4C Phantom jet and deployed to Vietnam where he flew 100 combat missions over enemy territory. On a particularly dangerous mission, critical to the success of future flying operations, his heroic actions led to him being awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. He was also awarded the Legion of Merit medal, twelve Air Medals, the Vietnam Service medal with bronze devices for three separate campaigns, as well as numerous other awards and decorations. Later in his career he also flew thousands of hours in the T-37 and T-38 training aircraft. In an article published by the Daedalian organization celebrating the unique military aviation history of his extended family, Colonel Cone commented, "Two weeks after graduating from Clemson in 1964, I received a draft notice from the Army. To avoid doing something I really didn't want to do, I headed to Shaw AFB to take the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test and was told that I qualified to go to either pilot or navigator training or the medical services field. I told them that my future father-in-law, Bill Nelson, was a pilot in the Air Force, so I would go the pilot route. The rest, as they say, is history.

He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 70 years where he belonged to the Berean Sunday School class and was the former chairman of the Board of Trustees. He was also a set-builder for the Living Christmas Story and the Director of Audio/Visual Services for over 20 years which included Trinity Day School and Vacation Bible School events. One of his great joys was working in his wood shop to build any creation the many directors of Children's Ministries could imagine.

Other notable community involvement includes being the former chairman of the Board of Trustees at Sunset Country Club and a board member of Friends of Swan Lake. Dicks was a member, with his wife Sandie, of both the Assembly and Trian Debutante Clubs in Sumter.

Survivors include his wife Sandie Nelson Cone of Sumter; two daughters, Lee Cone Daniel (Robert) of Atlanta, GA, Michelle Cone Fehr (Craig) of Sumter; four grandchildren, Maggie Daniel, Griffin Daniel, Ella Fehr and Kate Fehr.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Wells Alan Cone.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 A.M. Monday, September 29, 2025, at Trinity United Methodist Church with Rev. Angela Marshall and Rev. Dr. Reginald Thackston officiating with full military honors. The family will receive friends following the memorial service in the fellowship hall.

Private burial will be held in the Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Garden.

Memorial gifts can be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.