William Wesley Dillon III

DILLON III, William Wesley Age 82 of Nashville, TN. Bill was the son of Ann Warner Tenison Dillon and William Wesley Dillon, and preceded in death by his brother, Smith Tenison (Ted) Dillon. Bill is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ellen White Dillon; son, William Wesley Dillon; daughter, Ellen (Emmie) Dillon Thomas and husband James Anderson; three grandchildren, Warner Grant Thomas, Ellen Marie Thomas and James Anderson Thomas, Jr., all of Nashville; sister-in-law, Beverly Dillon of Dundee, IL; brother-in-law, Weldon Bailey White, Jr. and wife Elizabeth of Nashville; nephews, John Wesley Dillon and wife Trisha of Oakland, ME, Wallace Crawford White and wife Catherine, daughters, Ellie and Caroline of Seattle, WA, and Weldon Bailey White III of Atlanta, GA. Born July 12, 1926, Bill attended Walter Stokes School and Montgomery Bell Academy before volunteering to serve in the US Navy at the age of 17. He was radio operator aboard the destroyer USS Watts 567 in the Pacific Theatre from 1944-1946. Honored to serve his country, Bill was always a proud "Tin Can Sailor". Upon returning home, he attended Vanderbilt University, pledging Sigma Chi, lettering in wrestling and majoring in business. Most importantly, he met the love of his life, Ellen. Following graduation, Bill spent two years at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, mastering commercial and fine art. In 1953, he married Ellen, and they moved to Minneapolis where Bill worked as an illustrator for Brown and Bigelow. He returned to Nashville in 1957 and entered the field of advertising. Over his career, he was a Principal in four advertising firms, President of the Art Directors' Club, member of the Board of Middle TN Council of Boy Scouts, Metropolitan Federal Savings and Loan, and supporter of Ducks Unlimited. He served as Deacon, Elder and Chairman of the Board at Woodmont Christian Church. Bill is remembered as a skilled wildlife and waterfowl artist, painting and capturing nature's glory on canvas. Bill lived a life of love, loyalty and honor, making genuine friendships and wonderful contributions along the way. Honorary Pallbearers are J. Clark Akers III, Dr. Joseph Bragg of Tampa, FL, Frank Camp of Memphis, TN, Bob Dickens of Livingston, MT, Carlos Ford, William Bush Herbert III, Josiah E. Hutton, Billy Johnson, Vaden Lackey, Tom Lawrence, Todd Lawrence, Tommy Lawrence, Robert C. Lineberger, Tom Lutz, Ernest O. Northcutt of Louisville, KY, Robert Olmstead of Minneapolis, MN, Edward Scruggs III, Robert Smith of Whiting, NJ, Alonzo Tenison Jr., Raymond White, Walter White, members of the Buffalo River Hunting Club, and Elders and Deacons of Woodmont Christian Church. Active Pallbearers are Bill Dillon, Wesley Dillon, Jim Thomas, Grant Thomas, Jimmy Thomas, Bailey White, Wallace White, Ken Dobbins of Knoxville, TN, Bill Hawkins and Randy Luther. Special gratitude is extended to Mrs. Annie Wright and the Second Floor Partners of Richland Place. Visitation for Bill and his brother Ted will be held Friday, January 2, 2009 from 3-6 p.m., at Woodmont Christian Church. Services for Bill will be on Saturday the 3rd at 11 a.m., at Woodmont Christian Church, with the Dr. David Moore and Rev. Clay Stauffer. Interment immediately following service at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Services for Ted will be on January 10th, 2009 in Dundee, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Weldon Bailey White Law Prize, Vanderbilt Law School, 131 - 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203 or Woodmont Christian Church, 3601 Hillsboro Road, Nashville, TN 37215. AUSTIN FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, (615) 377-0775.