Lt. Col. Homer ‘Gene’ Dillow, USAF Ret.
Lt. Col. Homer “Gene” Dillow, USAF Ret., was born on Feb. 27, 1929, in Dongola, and died Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
He attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale before joining the U.S. Air Force. While stationed in Japan, he met his wife, Jane.
He was a navigator and flew support missions in Korea, French Indochina and special air missions with the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base during President Kennedy’s and President Johnson’s administrations.
He also flew with Air Rescue in Hawaii, as well as support missions for Apollo moon missions.
He was the director for the Air Force Rescue Center in Southeast Asia. He received the Korean Service Medal and a Bronze Star.
He enjoyed carpentry, as well as furniture repair and refinishing. He went on to teach aerospace and industrial arts classes at O’Fallon Township High School from 1979 to 1983.
He loved to tell stories about his travels around the world, golfing and he always rooted for the St. Louis Cardinals.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Reva “Jane” Dillow, nee Cuthbert; his daughter, Mary Lynn Bown; his parents, Walter E. and Louise Dillow; his birth mother, Ethel Ruth Dillow, nee Knupp; and his sister, Anita Ruth Mitchell.
Survivors include his daughter, Dee Ann (Jon) Johnson; his son, Bruce (Kathy) Dillow; his grandchildren, Melissa, JoBeth, Jordan, Kristina, Nicholas, Riley and Randy; six great-grandsons; his sister, Lura Dene Parke; and his brother, Frank Dillow.
Memorials can be sent to Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Dongola, P.O. Box 383, Dongola, Ill. 62926, or to the donor’s favorite charity.
Gene and Jane’s cremated remains will be interred at the Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Dongola, with private family graveside services at a later date.
Crain Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Dongola is in charge of arrangements.
To view the obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.