Charles Pete Dickson

Charles was the first born son of Pete Dikitsas, a Greek immigrant who later went back for his Greek bride, Magdalene Terzoglou of Praussa, Asia Minor and settled in Ohio. The Dikitsas name was later Americanized to the name of Dickson. Born in Urbana, Ohio Charles spent his young life working in his father’s haberdashery and dry cleaning business and another family business, The Dickson Hotel. He adventured to California where he modeled and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He later moved to Houston, Texas where he went to work in his uncle’s well-known restaurant, Kelley’s Restaurant on Main Street. He then became a food broker in the Houston area where his three sons were born before settling down in Lake Charles in 1957. Here he operated the Charcoal Galley Restaurant for several years and established himself as a successful businessman and restaurateur.

He married his wife Ann in 1968 and together they bought Tony’s Pizza on Prien Lake Road and soon made it into a household name. Working hard along his side were his three sons, Sterling, Adonis and Dimitrios as they relocated one by one to the Lake Charles area. Among other honors, the restaurant has enjoyed recognition as being one of the Top 50 Independent Pizzerias in the United States and consistently among the top independent pizza restaurants across the country listed in Pizza Today magazine. The restaurant has just celebrated 47 years of business and is repeatedly chosen as the “Best Pizza“ by Lagniappe, a local periodical.

A devout Greek Orthodox, Charles was a member of St. John the Devine Orthodox Church. He was a member of the Louisiana Restaurant Association as well as a former president of the local chapter of the LRA. He was an avid supporter of the Shriners, McNeese Athletics and the Banner Series. He will be remembered for his unique sense of humor and dry-wit, as well as his ability to tell a good story.

He is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 47 years, Novalin (Ann) Koonce Dickson, his three sons and their families: Adonis Charles Dickson and wife Cindy, grandsons Ryan and Sean; Sterling Charles Dickson and wife, Debbie and grandson Christopher and wife Melissa; Dimitrios Charles Dickson and wife Janet, granddaughter Alexandra and husband Ben Schexneyder, and grandson Alexander; all of Lake Charles. He is also survived by his loving sister, Frances Dickson Stangas; his special friend and brother-in-law, Dr. Peter Stangas of Gulf Breeze, Florida and his former wife and the mother of his sons, Cora Lee Dickson of Lake Charles. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Magdaline Dickson, his

brother Anthony Pete Dickson and sister, Despina (Dena) Dickson Faulkner.

Visitation will begin Thursday, February 5, 2015 from 4:00pm to 8:00 pm with the Trisagion Prayer Service at 6:30. Visitation will continue at 10am on Friday and the funeral service will be Friday, February 6, 2015 at 1:00 pm in Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles. Interment will follow the funeral service at Consolata Cemetery on Country Club Road in Lake Charles. The Greek Orthodox ritual will be officiated by the Rev. Michael Pavez and the Rev. Phillip Rogers.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Dickson, Ryan Dickson, Sean Dickson, Alexander Dickson, Julian Perez and Michael Eason. Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Robert Thompson, Mr. Leonard Fusilier, and Mr. James Leger.

The family would like to thank Dr. Van Snider, Dr. Raspberry, Dr. Ron Kober, Dr. Hooper Nicholls, Dr. Luke Williams, Dr. Gary Kohler and Dr. Craig Broussard, Rebecca Rhodes and the 5th floor nursing staff at St. Patrick’s Hospital and the staff of Memorial Specialty Hospital for their compassionate care and kindness during the final days of Charles Dickson’s life. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.

.