William E. Dillard Jr.

William E. Dillard, Jr., 97, of Columbus, Georgia, died June 27th in Columbus, Georgia. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Columbus on Saturday, July 1st at 3:00 PM. A private burial will be at Riverdale Cemetery earlier.

Mr. Dillard was born March 6, 1926, in Troy, Alabama, the son of William E. and Elizabeth Pace Dillard. He graduated from Columbus High School and Duke University with a BA in Economics. He served in the U. S. Navy for three years ending July 1, 1947, the last year as Communications Officer and Assistant Navigator aboard the USS Marquette. After military service, he returned to Columbus and embarked on a 46-year career as an insurance agent representing property and casualty companies.

Mr. Dillard was a past Board Member of First National Bank of Columbus. He was past President of Georgia-Alabama Council of Boy Scouts of America; Concharty Council of Girl Scouts; Columbus Association of Independent Insurance Agents; and Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus. He was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Boy Scout Council. He was coach of the Clubview Bulldogs pee-wee football team when it won the city championship.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbus, where he served for many years on the Board of Deacons and Finance Committee. He was a former Board Member of the Country Club of Columbus, Georgia Association of Independent Insurance Agents, Columbus Jaycees and the Girls Club of Columbus. He was a member of the Big Eddy Club, The Jamestowne Society, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and served as President of its Georgia Psi chapter.

He was predeceased by his wife, Louise Duskin Dillard, sister Jane Turner Greene (Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Lawrence), sister Sara Dillard Morrison (Thomas) and brother James C. Dillard. Survivors include his daughter, Louise McMath Dillard of Columbus; and son, William E. Dillard III (Marcella Miller) of Savannah. Surviving grandchildren are Stuart Lee Johnston (Peyton) of Atlanta; Thomas Pace Johnston (Sarah) of Durham, North Carolina; William E. Dillard, IV of Atlanta; Marcella McMath Dillard of Tucson, Arizona; and Mary Lucile Dillard of Savannah. Great grandchildren are Collier McMath Johnston and William Patrick Johnston of Atlanta and Elizabeth Lois Johnston and Kathryn Pace Johnston of Durham. The family is especially grateful to his caregiver, Amelia Fallah, who along with the wonderful people at Hospice, made this last portion of his life so much better.

In lieu of flowers, those desiring may contribute to First Baptist Church of Columbus, P. O. Box 828, Columbus, Georgia 31902 or Columbus Hospice of Georgia and Alabama, 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31909.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Dillard family.