William 'Bill' Dixon
William “Bill” Dixon, 88, of Tamms, and formerly of Murphysboro, died at 3:49 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at home.
He was born on Jan. 8, 1931, in Carbondale, the son of Claude Marron and Myrtle Ruth Claxton Dixon.
He married Patricia Caplinger on March 14, 1954, and they have shared 65 years of marriage together.
Mr. Dixon started his career in the U.S. Air Force, where he worked as an electrician on B-25 bomber aircraft during the Korean War era.
Upon honorable discharge from the military he went on to become a painter for the Local 32 Painters Union, a field in which he worked for more than 50 years.
He loved hunting, fishing, building balsa wood model airplanes, gardening and being with family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Dixon was a member of the American Legion Post No. 127 in Murphysboro and the Tamms United Methodist Church. He was baptized in the First Christian Church in Murphysboro.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Dixon of Tamms; five children, Doug Dixon of Somerville, Ala., Scott (Donna) Dixon of Waltonville, Craig (Debra) Dixon of Cobden, Danny (Gala) Dixon of Galatia and Becky (Michael) Etherton of Murphysboro; nine grandchildren, Amber C. Dixon, Meredith A. Dixon, Jeremy Dixon, Jason Dixon, Casey Dixon, Lance Dixon, Alexis Johnson, Emily Dixon and Autumn Grant; eight great-grandchildren, Jackson, Timothy, Courtney, John, Caitlyn, Drake, Harrison and Summer Rose; one great-great-grandson, Rhett; and one great-great-grandchild on the way; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Steven Dixon; a brother, Charles Dixon; and a sister, Hazel Lipe.
Funeral services for William “Bill” Dixon were at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, at Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home between Carbondale and Murphysboro on Old Route 13, with Pastor Brent Gordon officiating. Entombment was in the Pleasant Grove Memorial Park Mausoleum with full military honors.
Memorials can be made to the Siteman Cancer Center or to the American Diabetes Association.
Crain Funeral Home in Tamms was in charge of arrangements.
To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.