Retired Lt. Col. William ‘Colonel’ Dixon, 89, of Smithfield, OH, passed away Thursday, March 19, 2020, in the Country Club Manor in Steubenville, OH.
Bill was born June 11, 1930, in Camilla, GA, son of the late Ellis and Lottie (Johnson) Dixon.
He retired from the US Army with 21 years of service, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He spent almost 7 years overseas and his decorations include: Army and Navy Commendation Medals, Korean and Vietnam Service Medals, UN Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and 2 Over/Sea Bars.
After the Army, Bill was the Asst. Dir. of Children Services in Steubenville and he also worked in the Stanton Homes in Smithfield.
Bill’s memberships include the Smithfield American Legion Post #396, the Steubenville Lions Club, and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville where he was a Trustee and founder and head of the Male Chorus.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Alberta (Harris) Dixon who passed in 2013, his sisters, Lois Thomasson and Doris Simon and his brother, Wallace Dixon.
Bill leaves behind his daughter, Diane Dixon Montgomery (Henry) of Smithfield; his son, William Craig Dixon (Tamerah) of Steubenville; his grandchildren, Stephanie, Naomi (James Goff) and Jacob Montgomery, Bria Dixon and Mara Dixon (Rick Sempkowski); his great-grandchildren, Phoenix Velez, Janiyah Dodd, Jayonna Montgomery Lawrence, Nyliyah and Nayaudra Goff; his brother, Rudolph Dixon of Steubenville.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 11 at 12 noon at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville. Bishop Jermaine V. Moore, Sr. will preside. Military Honors will be presented by the Ohio Valley Memorial Squad. He was laid to rest in the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery with his wife, Alberta.
Bill’s arrangements are in the care of the J.E. Foster Funeral Home in Smithfield, OH.