Floyd Eugene Dixon's Obituary
Floyd Eugene Dixon was born in Chesterfield Pennsylvania , to Zella Knepp Dixon and Eugene William Dixon. He came from a very large family of 13 children. He was the 11th born in his family.
His first wife, Betty Jane Dixon preceded him and he married Ruth McKinley Dixon, she also preceded him. Others who preceded him include, his parents; daughter, Kathleen McKinley Edwards; Granddaughter, Candace Smith; Brothers and Sisters, Velda Dixon, Carmel Greenawalt, Kathryn Williams, Alverta Vallalla, Virginia Fravel, William Dixon, Russell Dixon, Veranon Dixon, Grace Dunlap, Beatrice Smith and Charles Dixon.
He has only one surviving brother and sister-in-law, Richard "Dick" and Demeris Dixon. He has a son, Steve Dixon, three step children, John Michael McKinley, Diana McKinley Smith and husband Joe Smith, and Kenneth Patrick McKinley. He has four granddaughters, Holly Dixon, Heather Smith, Elizabeth Stockert and Cortni McKinley and five grandsons, Brian Elliot Carter, Ken McKinley Jr., Joshua McKinley, Taylor "Tanner" McKinley, and Jordan McKinley, Also had numerous nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren. He cherished his family so much!
Gene worked in the coal mines in Pennsylvania and left there to join the Army in March 1948. He served from 17 March 1948 until 29 February 1970 and retired as chief Warrant Officer CW3. In addition to Gene's assignments in the United States he also served in the Republic of South Vietnam , South Korea , Japan and Germany . Gene was well decorated with awards including the Army Commendation Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. After retiring from the Service he managed a Dairy Queen restaurant for several years and then went to work at a hardware manufacturing company. He loved to travel fish and hunt in his younger days with his first wife Betty. He loved doing wood work at his home in Irving with Ruth and we have many items of his wonderful work in our homes. When he moved to Lake Striker he loved spending time with family, playing cards and dominos, feeding the ducks, watching the sunsets and in the last three years he has mostly enjoyed watching the great-grandchildren run about and grow up. When they entered the room or he entered, all their eyes would light up and run to him.
He loved his family very much and was always there to help. The highlight of his week was watching the ballgames with Joe on weekends.
I know he is enjoying being with all of his loved ones that are in Heaven waiting for him.
Graveside services will be held at New Salem Cemetery in New Salem, Texas, Saturday January 19, 2013 at 2:00p.m. with Pastor David Butler officiating under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Henderson.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to a charity of your choice or The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd • Tyler , TX 75701
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