Edgar Wallace Dillon Jr.

Published 12:01 am Thursday, September 8, 2016

April 17, 1927 – Sept. 5, 2016

VIDALIA — Services for Edgar Wallace Dillon Jr., 89, who died Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, will be 11 a.m. today at Calvary Baptist Church in Vidalia.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5002 in Natchez, under the direction of Comer Funeral Home in Ferriday.  

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time today at the church.

Mr. Dillon was born April 17, 1927, in Tylertown, the son of Edgar Wallace Dillon Sr. and Ada Brumfield Dillon. He grew up in Amite, La.

Mr. Dillon was a man who loved his Lord and Savior. He loved even more to spread the word about Jesus Christ. He was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church in Vidalia. His proudest achievement in life was his family. He created a family who knew what is was to be loved and cherished. He made it a point in his life to entertain and make his grandchildren laugh.

He was a very patriotic man and proudly served his country and enjoyed telling many stories of his years of service. At the age of 17, he left his senior class to join the Coast Guard and fought during World War II. After the war ended, he joined the Merchant Marines where he remained until the time he married. He thankfully and faithfully worked for the International Paper Company in the PowerHouse until his retirement after 37 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Frank Jones; one son, Stephen Wallace Dillon; one sister, Mildred D. Baham; one brother, Elton E. Dillon; mother-in-law, Golda McGehee Simmons; and two brothers-in-law, Bernard Simmons and Reginald Simmons.

Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Patsy Simmons Dillon; one daughter, Kathy Dillon Rutter and husband, Jody; two sons, Leslie Dillon and companion, Kellie Smith and Paul Dillon and wife, Cyndie; nine grandchildren, Stephanie Jackson Sturdivant, Karen Jackson Bishop, Matt Dillon, April Dillon Blaney, Mariana Morris, Courtney Morris Geoghegan, Charlotte Dillon Sibley, Stephen Dillon and James Dillon; 17 great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Ivy Lee Robertson, Jeannette Walker Maxie and Iris Walker; two brothers-in-law, Percy Simmons and Sidney Simmons; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Paul Dillon, Matt Dillon, Stephen Dillon, James Dillon, Greg Bishop, Chad Blaney and David Sibley.

Honorary pallbearers will be Leslie Dillon, Jody Rutter, Tony Joe Braley and RV Mize.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society, 475 Liberty Road, Natchez, MS 39120 or to a charity of choice.