Mr. Bobby Pajarillo Dizon

US Navy Retired of Virginia Beach, VA

Bobby Pajarillo Dizon went peacefully to be with the Lord on December 3, 2022, after 79 years of sharing his gentle and dedicated soul with the world. Bobby was born on October 18, 1943 in Pozorrubio Pangasinan, Philippines to his late parents, Mauro Casallang Dizon and Magdalena Sotto Dizon. A loving Kuya to his five younger siblings, Myrna, Cecilia, Lani, Amy, and Mauro, he immigrated to the United States in 1965 and brought his brother, sisters, and mother over for a better life.

A proud veteran and adventurous spirit, Bobby served for 22 years in the United States Navy and saw the world, including tours of duty in the Vietnam War, at COMNAVAIRLANT in Norfolk, VA, and on the Diplomat Staff of Admiral Kinnear as a Military Representative at NATO’s military headquarters in Belgium, where he graduated from anti-terrorist driving school. Not only did he do his country a great service, but with his impeccable style, master driving skills and love of great cars, his grandchildren attest that, as evidenced by photos, his globetrotting was 007-level cool.

A man with a deep commitment to service, loyalty, and protecting others, Bobby was a celebrated Lieutenant Deputy Sheriff and involved in the law enforcement community as a member of the Police Association of Virginia, Fraternal Order of Police, and Sheriff Association. He was also involved in philanthropy and local community service through the Victory Daylight Lodge 1778 and Khedive Shriners Scooter Patrol Unit.

Bobby was introduced to his wife, Modesta Fernandez Dizon, by his father, who was a hospital patient in her nursing care. Mauro had the right idea, as Modesta’s devotion to the Dizon men would continue through a loving marriage of 54 years, full of laughs, teamwork, loving bickering, road trips, dancing, gardening, elaborate birthday cards, home-cooked meals, and caretaking for parents, siblings, children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren. Bobby and Modesta courageously left their home in Pangasinan to make a new home for themselves in Virginia Beach, where they raised two children, Virginia “Gigi” D. Mollner and Bobby Dizon, Jr, who both inherited their father’s artistic and comedic abilities and his dedication to family and friends. Gigi and her husband Joey Mollner and Bobby and his wife Ruby Dizon are endlessly grateful to their father for years of quiet and steady support and dedication, especially in helping raise his seven grandchildren: Alyssa Dizon, Jakob Dizon, Zoe Mollner, Benjamin Dizon, Owen Mollner, Ethan Dizon, and Rafael Mollner.

A jack of all trades, Bobby had many talents, including being able to cook up steak and eggs to order for a dozen hungry mouths without breaking a sweat, carve a potato into a rose, construct a life-size sleigh and reindeer for the yard without power tools, make his wife Modesta laugh and yell simultaneously, and bowl (3!) perfect games. While his grandchildren are still trying to master the art of steak and eggs, potato roses, and bowling, he did instill in all of them values to be dependable, dedicated, and joyful family members and friends, character traits they will all live in his honor, proudly.

Enough cannot be said for how much Bobby loved his family. To him, his wife, children, and grandchildren were the reasons he took to every moment with such fervor. He wanted to be sure his love would be known in every way possible. Whether that be by showing up for big games, driving over a tupperware of his latest dish, donning sweatshirts to represent each child and grandchild’s college, or by always making room at his table. Perhaps the most telling demonstration of Bobby’s love is given in his saying, “be good, and take care of your Lola.” His constant love and care will always be etched into the hearts of his family and will always serve as a call to love and cherish as he did.

Bobby’s wife, siblings and their spouses, children and their spouses, and grandchildren will miss him immeasurably, but will think of him fondly each time they work to care for others and make the world a more whimsical, creative place in the way he did – by lifting the mood with a joke (or friendly jab), by singing or dancing along to Elvis or Blondie, by (attempting to) cook his staple dishes up to his standard, by caring for pets and plants alike, and by crafting beautiful things, just for the sake of it.

Bobby’s last words of advice to his eldest grandchild Alyssa was “don’t rush”, and she hopes that we can all live by that. Dear reader: in the wise words of the US Navy Seals, “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast”, and we request you take a page out of our always-smooth patriarch’s book, in his honor: soak in the moment, take it slow, find the fun or make it, live in service to others, and always make time to make the world more beautiful.

To our beloved Husband / Dad / Ninong / Grandpa / Lolo / Kuya Bobby: Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, and we can’t wait til we see you again.