Wesley Leonard Dillon

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August 29, 2012

Wesley Leonard Dillon

Anonymous ---- The Tribune Star Wed Aug 29, 2012, 05:00 AM EDT

Wesley Leonard Dillon was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on Aug. 25, 2012. He was born Aug. 2, 1933, in Jenkinjones, W.Va., to Hite and Mae Dillon. Wesley was one of nine brothers.

Wesley enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18 and thus escaped the poverty of life in the West Virginia coal mining town of Jenkinjones. His service lasted from 1951 to 1959. Wesley was a veteran of the Korean War. Over the years he remained actively involved with his company through veteran reunions and outings.

Wesley found his way to the Midwest and settled in Terre Haute, where he met and married Judy VanArsdale in May of 1955. That union produced four children; Dorothy Denise Dillon, Patricia Dillon (Diana), Timothy Dillon and Paul Dillon (Robin). Wesley and Judy were divorced in 1968.

Wesley then met and married Sheryl Funk in December of 1968. Together they had two children, Sandra Wood (James) and Jamie Larkin (Dennis). Wesley and Sheryl opened their home and hearts to numerous exchange students over the years, which resulted in life-long relationships that have lasted to this day. Sheryl and Wes were blessed to have traveled abroad and to have had their little slice of paradise here on earth, in the way of their vacation home in St. Augustine, Fla.

Wesley was employed at Wabash Fiber Box factory in Terre Haute. He worked on his father-in-law's farm in Bowling Green, and was a jack-of-all-trades. He was a member of New Life Fellowship church, a regular blood donor, an avid outdoors-man, fisherman and hunter. Wesley never met a stranger; he was a friend to all. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. He was a jokester and his laugh and smile were infectious. He loved ice cream, Saturday morning cartoons, cooking, family and living life. In his younger days he was pretty set in his ways — as an older and wiser man he can be remembered by his famous line — ”do it your way”.

Wesley was welcomed into eternal rest by his loving wife, Sheryl; daughter Denise; brothers, Riley, Charles, Muncie and Jack Jones. Left to cherish his memory are brothers, John Jones (Joanne), Edward Dillon, Lonnie Dillon (Pat), and Gene Dillon (Lynn), brother-in-law, Donald Funk (Joan); sister-in-law, Mary Ann Louden; five children grandchildren, Chad, Travis, Corey and Esther Dillon, Robbie and Mallorie Hastings and James Wood, great-grandchildren, Hannah and Amari Dillon; his former wife, Judy Wells and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Going Home Celebration will take place at New Life Fellowship Worship Center, 1851 Chamberlain Road, in Terre Haute, on Sept. 8, 2012, at 11 a.m. Immediately following the service, burial of his cremated remains, alongside those of his wife, will be at Swalley Cemetery, in Bowling Green.

To honor Wesley's memory the family asks that donations be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Indiana Blood Center or The Alzheimer's Association.

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