You fought the good fight, but a win on Earth was not to be. God reached down and took your hand and whispered, "It's time to come home with me."
HUNTINGDON - William Leroy "Bill" Dickson, 79, of 13420 Greenwood Road, Huntingdon, went to be with his Lord at 12:10 a.m. Monday, June 11, 2012, at his home.
Born April 13, 1933, in Jackson Township, Huntingdon County, a son of the late John Calvin Dickson and Clara Belle (Lightner) Dickson.
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William Leroy ‘Bill’ Dickson
His wife, Donna Pearl (Eckley) Dickson, survives at their home. They were married on March 6, 1958, at the Barree Methodist Church by Rev. Edmund Minnich. They celebrated 54 years of marriage this year.
Also surviving are: a son, Kirk William Dickson, of Huntingdon; a granddaughter, Rachel Colleen Dickson, of Huntingdon, brothers and sisters, Josephine Wilson and husband, Clyde, of Belleville, James Herbert Dickson and companion, Helena, of Sarasota, Fla., Bette Reif Braucht, of Spring Mills, and Lois Corl, of Huntingdon; a sister-in-law, Bertha Dickson, of Ky; and 19 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by: a brother, Donald Dickson, of Ky.; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Dickson, of Sarasota, Fla., and Betty Hetrick and her husband, Richard, of Huntingdon; three brothers-in- law, John Reif, of Pine Grove Mills, Charles "Buggs" Braucht, of Spring Mills, and Grover Corl, of Huntingdon; and a nephew, Greg Wilson.
He attended McAlevy's Fort School, Slate Hill School, Steffies and Stone Valley High before graduating from Huntingdon High School in 1952.
Bill served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, during the Korean War. During this time, he received a number of medals which included the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal. He was a boxer for his artillery unit as a pastime. He then joined the U.S. Army Reserve from 1955 to 1961.
He was employed by Howard T. Swank, of Boalsburg, as a tile setter for over 43 years before his retirement in 1995. He was a member of the BAC Local Unit No. 5, Harrisburg.
He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in McAlevy's Fort since 1968, where he served as an elder, a trustee and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school classes under the direction of Frank Gibboney for a number of years. He also sang in the church choir that was led by Clara Grace Davis and the late Marjorie Smith. Bill was instrumental in the construction of the brick work for the addition to the Presbyterian church, in keeping with the historical aspect of the more than 100-year-old structure.
He was a member of the Shaver's Creek Grange for 25 years. He was an honorary member of the WCTU for more than 20 years. He enjoyed collecting antiques for more than 40 years and going to auctions. Earlier in life, he was an avid turkey and deer hunter, as well as a fisherman. He loved reading and researching about the history of his church and beloved Stone Valley. He enjoyed visiting early grave sites in the area.
A funeral service will be held in his memory at 11 a.m. Friday, June 15, 2012, at the United Presbyterian Church, 13543 Greenwood Road, Huntingdon, with Pastor Dan Morris officiating. Burial will take place at Green Lea Cemetery. His family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday from, at Henderson Funeral Home, and from 9 a.m. until the time of the service Friday, at the church.
Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to Home Nursing Agency-Hospice, 9492 William Penn Hwy, Suite 1, Huntingdon, PA 16652 or to United Presbyterian Church, c/o Marian Keller, 4359 McAlevy's Fort Road, Petersburg, PA 16669.
Arrangements are under the care of Henderson Funeral Home Inc., 3813 W. Main St., Belleville.
