Homer Lee Dillard passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2018 with the love of his life by his side. He was born January 18, 1929 in Greenwood, Arkansas, west of Jack Nolan Lake to Clifford and Eithel Dillard. The snow was nineteen inches deep that day. Homer was raised in Jenny Lind, having moved there from Hester Cut (Greewood). His family moved in July of 1935 when Homer was six years old. He started to school in September that year and graduated from Jenny Lind University (joke) in 1944. Homer went to Greenwood High School and graduated in 1948. In September of 1948, he went to work for the post office as a substitute rural mail carrier. When he was not working he was hunting and fishing. He joined the Navy in 1951 and served until November 17, 1955. He was in charge of the U.S. Navy #85 Post Office at Wahiawa, Oahu. After discharge, he went to work at the post office in Fort Smith, Arkansas. One morning he was sent to sub-station B on Midland Blvd. and in conversation with the station manager, he found out he was Post Master at Navy #85 (Korean War). The station manager, Gene Duncan, a man he was in service with, had been working there and he met up again after serving together four years in the Navy during the Korean War.
Homer met the love of his life, Sylvia Cox, of Bear Hollow in the winter of 1948. They were married November 19, 1949 by the late Reverend Earl Peoples. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Lanora and brother, Charles. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sylvia Cox Dillard, their four daughters, Wilma Montgomery and husband, Larry, Cheryl Garrett and husband, James, Brenda Rhyne and husband, Billy and Glenda Doss and husband, Mike; grandchildren, Curtis Hearn and wife, Brenda, Terry Hearn and wife, Mandie, Travis Garrett and wife, Jennifer, Whitney Overbey and husband, John, Shane Doss and wife, Lori and Allen Doss and wife, Tara; great grandchildren, Tyler, Jessica and Sony Hearn, Kayli, Kara, Rex, Austin and Justin Hearn and Lexi, Eli and Kayle Garrett, Baby Girl Overbey, Michael, Cole, Cortlyn and Peyton Doss; great great grandchildren, Kimber, Loren, Jackson, Baylor and Abel; two brothers, W.A. Dillard and David Dillard and many loving nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Monday, May 21 at Faith Baptist Church in Jenny Lind with burial with military honors at Old Jenny Lind Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Sunday from 1 – 4 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 2 – 4 p.m.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Curtis and Terry Hearn, Travis Garrett, John Overbey, Shane and Allen Doss.
To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
