A board member at Skyline School for many years Bobby Gene Dixon was born on May l, 1938 to Roper Morgan Dixon and Elva Detherage Dixon. He was married to Vera Fay Elliott on May 24, 1959 at Elk Creek, and to this union eight children were born.
Bob accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 13. He was ordained as a deacon at age 21 in l960. Bobby worshipped the Lord and served Friendship Church faithfully throughout his life. He was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent at various times as well as using his bass voice in the choir and special singing. Recently, he joined Gideons International, Ava Camp.
Bob worked at Tobin Hamilton Shoe Co. in Mansfield, from 1956-l992. He retired to the “Dixon Retreat” where he liked to be known as “cattle rancher.” He enjoyed watching his children play sports, fishing and playing basketball. He was a board member at Skyline School for many years. He enjoyed listening to gospel music and his favorite group was his children and he joined them singing many times.
Preceding him in death were his father, Roper Morgan Dixon; two brothers, Donald Eugene and an infant brother; and one son, David Morgan Dixon.
Surviving are his loving wife of 47 years, Vera; his mother, Elva Kester, of Ava; five daughters and two sons, Helen and Rick Batten, of Ava, Donna Dixon, of Ava, Marvin and Jemi Dixon, of Eureka, Penny and Anthony McNeill, of Whitewater, Kan., Michael and Tanya Dixon, of Ava, Tamara Camp, of Ava, Tiffany and Terril Jones, of Springfield; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Bob will be missed not only by family but by many friends and relatives. His greatest desire was to be a good witness for his Lord and to be an example to all he met everywhere he went.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with Revs. R. E. Helsley and Billie Hicks officiating. Interment will follow in the Dyer Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.. in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Gideons International.
