Paul Eugene Dickerson, 85, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois died at 3:45 A.M. on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at White Oak Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

He was born on April 1, 1926 in Bridgeport, Illinois, the son of John Leslie and Marie Lawless Dickerson.

He married Mary Flamm on November 26, 1949 in Cairo, Illinois; Mary passed away in December 2011.

Paul is survived by two sons, Dave Dickerson and wife Kris of Durham, NC, and Dean Dickerson and wife Judy of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; five daughters, Kathy Minton and husband Roger of San Antonio, Jane Sanders and fiance Rick Kirkpatrick of Mt. Vernon, Leslie Pigg and husband Fred of Mt. Vernon, Barb Kocher and husband Kevin of Raleigh, NC and Carol Dickerson of Mt. Vernon; 16 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and two sisters, Norma Hutmacher of Quincy and Barbara Heath of Lawrenceville.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his parents; one brother, Johnny Dickerson; one sister, Mary Jane Hargrove; infant twin daughters, Paula and Mary; and infant son, John Joseph and twin grandsons.

Paul was a committed patriot, joining the Navy in 1944, and was awarded two purple hearts while in the service. Honorably discharged in 1946, Paul earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business from SIU-Carbondale. He became an insurance adjuster, retiring in 1979 to acquire Rend Lake Marina, which he operated until he sold it in 1984. He and his wife Mary then enjoyed many RV trips across US and Canada for several years. Paul was deeply involved in his community since moving here in 1954. He was named King City Retailers Father of the Year in 1968, awarded the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1996, and honored as a Senior Saint in 2009 along with his wife Mary. He served as a Boy Scout and Explorer Post leader for many years, and was on the Jefferson County Board with two years as Chairman. Paul served on the Airport Authority Commission for many years until recently and was instrumental in the current success of the airport and its award as Illinois State Airport of the Year in 2007. He contributed several years and carpentry skills to help build the Jefferson County Historical Village, and served on the Board of Directors as a member and as Chairman. Paul was a volunteer for many years at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital, where he served as President of the Auxiliary Board for two years and a member of the Hospital Advisory Board. He was past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, past president of Mt. Vernon Jaycees, past Mint Program Chairman of Mt. Vernon Lions Club, and served as a Precinct Committeeman. He was also a member of the Mt. Vernon Rotary Club, the Jefferson County Board of Review; and St. Mary's Church Finance Council. Paul was deeply loved and highly respected, and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

VISITATION: will be held from 4 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. A Rosary will be held at 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

FUNERAL MASS: will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mt. Vernon with Father John Iffert officiating. Interment with full Military Honors will be at St. Mary's Cemetery. For those who wish, memorials may be given to St. Mary's Catholic Church Building Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register-News
Submitted by: Archives