Richard D. Dixon

Richard Dudley Dixon 11/11/1935 - 12/7/2021 Richard Dudley Dixon went to his eternal home with the Lord on December 7, 2021, at the age of 86. He was residing in Vancouver, WA. He had been in good health until the past year when he began struggling with congestive heart failure, vascular disease, and end stage renal disease. He was in the hospital being treated for sepsis when he suffered a cardiac arrest and died. Richard, previously called "Dick," and nicknamed "Dicky Dud" as a child, was born in Harlingen, Texas, to Julia Frances (Dudley) and Robert Otis Dixon, and was the first of three boys born into the family. As a young child he spent a lot of time at his Grandma Dudley's house while his parents worked during the Depression. As a high school student, he played both basketball and football and was nearly awarded valedictorian on graduation. Richard served in the Army during the Korean War. He was stationed mostly in Germany and was a sharpshooter. He benefitted from the GI bill to complete his bachelor's degree at Texas College of Arts and Industries, now known as Texas A&M University-Kingsville. After his military service and completing his bachelor's degree, he moved to the Pacific Northwest and married the woman who would become the mother of his two children. He lived in the PNW the rest of his life except for a few years in Syracuse, New York. He completed a master's degree in reading at Oregon State University, and later nearly completed a PhD in Syracuse. He took much pride in teaching reading and assisting impaired readers to improve their skills. He was a teacher in junior high, high school, and community college in Oregon and Washington. He later worked for an electrical company, then became an investments counselor. In the late 1990s he studied to become a paralegal and then worked at St. Andrew Legal Clinic in Portland, OR for 20 years. He officially retired at the age of 85. Richard greatly enjoyed his involvement in church and choirs. He attended church most of his life and served as an elder, deacon, and Sunday School teacher. He enjoyed participating in youth work camps when his children were young. He sang in church choirs and was also a member of the Vancouver USA Singers for several years. He enjoyed singing tenor, and especially enjoyed old hymns. He owned and enjoyed playing at least 6 different harmonicas! Having grown up in agriculture country and gaining experience in harvesting, he enjoyed gardening. He found pleasure working in the dirt, growing vegetables, and cultivating blueberries and other fruit bushes and trees. Richard was pre-deceased by his parents of southern Texas, and his youngest brother, John Peter Dixon (Connie) of Kerrville, TX. He is survived by his current wife, Pamela Stover, of Vancouver, WA; his son Christopher Dixon (Karoline Jones) of Bainbridge Island, WA, and daughter Melissa Dixon (Sean Fry) of Vancouver, WA; his brother, Robert Dixon of Houston, TX; his stepchildren Rebecca McCallister (Matthew) of Vancouver and Jeffrey Stover (Kellie) of Woodland, WA, his brothers-in-law Ronald Smutz and Stephen Smutz, and sister-in-law Barbara Isenburg (Walter McGill). He is also survived by three grandchildren and more than six step-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins. He enjoyed maintaining connection with his college friends and had particularly enjoyed lengthy phone conversations with special friend Phillip Hudson, of Texas. A memorial service will be held at Columbia Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, WA, January 8, 2022, at 1 pm. His cremains will be interred at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver, WA. Memorials in honor of Richard may be made to Columbia Presbyterian Church, 8715 St. Helens Ave, Vancouver, WA, 98664. Please add "Memorial-R. Dixon" on the memo line of your check. Richard was a man of integrity, quick wit, and practicality. He was friendly, hardworking, well-read in religion, politics, and investments, and musically talented. He is much loved and greatly missed by his wife, family and friends.

Richard D. Dixon

November 11, 1935 - December 7, 2021