Born as William Powell Dickson on: October 23rd, 1936 in Tulare California. Passed away on June 27th, 2018 in Lacey Washington. Preceded in death by his wife Katherine (of 28 years) on October 23rd, 2017, 2nd wife Helen, and first wife Rose, mother of Cathi and Mary Dickson. William is survived by his two daughters, Cathi Dickson of Oak Harbor, Washington and Mary Louise Dickson of Kent, Washington. Also survived by an older sister and three brothers.
William came from a large family, eight children in all. He was fourth in line so that puts him right in the middle of older brother and sisters and two more sisters and two more brothers younger than him. Needless to say he was a cherished son and sibling, helper, dad and brother. He also had a very large extended family of aunts, uncles and almost uncountable cousins. It soon became known (within so many of those family members) that nicknames were the thing to have. There was among others; Nee Nee, Cookie, Monkey & Joker. But his nickname became known as “Pal” a shortened but wonderful nickname for William Powell. And then as time went on he would also affectionately be called, Willie-Pal, Poo or Poo-Bear, then to many others it became “Bill”.
Willie was devoted to his family and daughters, helping them to grow up in a difficult world through many hardships of their own but then he also, provided the many things a family needs to experience a healthy and loving lifestyle. Living in Alaska and then the rurals of Washington State, he worked for and then provided them a wonderful life in the country. Accordingly then, it became a natural for them all to be outdoorsmen, hunting fishing and camping was the normal thing to do, from early on he taught his girls how to shoot their firearms and respect mother nature. In looking back now it was a time never be forgotten by his family and anyone else who called him “my friend”.
He was quite patriotic and loved his country. Having served in the Air Force in the 1950’s he found himself in North Africa and then Germany. He was even part of the Russian Nuclear arms conflict during the cold war. He told of sleepless nights and of actually seeing the nuclear missiles just across the base boundary from where he served. But that wasn’t to be after he came home where there was not much of even a mention of those tough and nervous days. Then after coming home and by all accounts he got on with his life and served his family which became his main priority for the rest of his life.
After retirement he and Katherine bought an RV, (actually many of them, before it was all over). They traveled for 10 plus years seeing once again many of those long lost & forgotten extended family of cousins aunts and uncles. This happy and quiet man would then show them that he knew the real value of God, family and life and what we all go through in this tough world. He was truly a “Gentle Giant”
To have known him personally, It would be easy to believe that the song lyrics from “You’ll be in my heart” affectionately applied to him . . .
“In part it goes a little like this”
Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand and hold it tight.
Cause you'll be in my heart . . .
Yes, you'll be in my heart . . .
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart . . .
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart . . .
Always and always and always . . .
from this day on,
Now and forever more . . .
Additionally . . . he thoroughly believed in the scripture at Revelation 21:3&4 which states . . . With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
“Yes! . . . William Powell Dickson, you will be sorely missed every day of our lives.
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