Larry James Dillon Sr.

LARRY JAMES DILLON, SR. Larry J. Dillon Sr., age 81, died Monday at 6:28pm at Jane Phillips Medical Center. Services will begin at 2:30 pm Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe with Father Jose officiating. The Navy Funeral Honor Guard and local VFW and American Legion Posts will accord him full military rites at the graveside, Dewey Cemetary. All are welcome to attend. Rosary services will be held Sunday, 4 pm at the Stumpff Funeral Home. Larry is a war veteran of the Korean War, where he earned several medals, including the Navy Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal for Japan, Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Medal. He was born in St. Joseph, MO to Edward Hanks and Lena Mae (Johnson). The Dillon Family moved to Dewey where he attended Buck Creek School, west of Bartlesville. At age 11, the family moved to Tucson, AZ, where he continued his education. In 1948, he joined the United States Navy, serving in Korea, China, & Japan during the Korean War. He served aboard USS BOXER (CV-21) as a Machinist Mate until he received an Honorable Discharge in Jan 1952. The discipline and patriotism he earned in the Navy never left him, as friends and family will attest. June 7th, 1952 he married his love of 60 yrs, Ethel Margaret (Whitlatch) Dillon. They made their home in Tucson, AZ where Larry became employed as an officer at Pima Co. Sheriff’s Department and raised 4 children: Harry Dillon, Lee Dillon, Larry J. Dillon Jr., and Marie (Toni) Sturgeon. Many years later, Larry switched pace back to his Engineer ways and became a Driller for Pima Copper Mines in Tucson carrying explosives until 1980 when they then relocated the family back to Dewey, Oklahoma. Larry then began working for Phillips 66 until becoming disabled by a heart condition. Larry was never fully able to leave his military ways as he served as Quartermaster for several years of local VFW post 989, where he also helped train the Navy’s future as LTjg of the Sea Cadets. He was also a member of the local American Legion. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Hanks; his mother, Lena Mae; his brother, William A. Dillon Sr.; his sister, Bertha Juanita Hymer; his sister, Nellie Pauline Barron, and sister, Millie Francis Beran. Mr. Dillon is survived by a wife, Ethel (Margie); four children, Harry Dillon, Lee Dillon, Larry J. Dillon Jr., and Marie (Toni) Sturgeon. He also leaves behind his brother, Jake Dillon; sister, Ethel Mae Davis; 10 grandchildren, Eric, Hollie, Kim, Shawn, Michelle, Mitch, Trisha, Tasha, Josh, and Jessica; and 11 great-grandchildren. PDF Printable Version

Larry James Dillon Sr.

February 19, 1931 - June 18, 2012