Leon Martin Dixon, Jr., husband of Alfonso B Dixon passed away on September 11, 2020. They shared 65 years of marriage. Born in Brooklyn, NY November 12, 1927. He was the son of Leon Martin Dixon Sr and son of Helen Dixon. He graduated from Brooklyn College Undergraduate at Howard University College of Arts and Sciences.
Employed at Fitzsimmons Army Medical 1958-1965. Watson army hospital in which he retired from his esteemed military career in 1977. He also was employed at Reynold Metals, United States Postal Service all in a medical capacity. His final retirement was recently at the tender age of 91 years of old still working full time at Nottingham Correctional Facility.
Dr. Dixon dealt with adversity throughout his career. As one of the first black physicians to rise to become Commander In Chief of a U.S. military hospital. Towards the end of his life he cared for those that society did not believe were worthy of necessary health care. Listing a few of his many accomplishments, he served as head of the medical team for the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. This was unheard of for this time period in history U.S. for a man of his age and of his race to be give such a great opportunity. Another accomplishment of Dr. Dixon was commander in chief of Walson Army Hospital in Fort Dix, New Jersey during the first Swine Flu outbreak of 1976. With his knowledge, he stopped the virus from spreading further. He isolated those solders with the infection and then quarantined Fort Dix’s barracks. Doctor Dixon also was one of two doctors to innovate the first telemedicine. He found that it was easier to set up telecommunication between hospitals and prison hospitals. By doing so inmates did not have to be transported to a community hospital and treatment could be done within the prison system.
He enjoyed actives starting with International Story telling festival in Tennessee for 19 to 20 years. He name is engraved on one of the original bricks in the new renovation. He was an avid reader, which reflected in his extensive personal library. He loved the show Jeopardy where he auditioned to be a contestant. He was season passholder for Broadway shows where he attended five Broadway show a year. Passion was also apparent with his love of classical and jazz music, in which he shared with his family and friends. He loved taking his grandchildren to the Baltimore Orioles games.
Surprisingly he enjoyed the thrill of white water rafting from the majestic Colorado river to the Smokie mountains of Tennessee . There he mastered his skills of the class II and class V rapids ready for whatever challenges they brought he was ready.
He is predeceased by Cynthia Dixon. He was survived by his spouse, Alfonso Dixon; children, Deborah Dixon, Carolyn Dixon, Suzanne Green, and Marty Dixon; his sister, Helen Tyler; nieces, Dr. Beverly Tyler, Jackie and Carl Mundy, Kimberly and Allen Perry, Stephen Tyler; great nieces, Shani Hannah, Jessica Tyler; grandchildren, Lionel Knight, Maria Knight-Garcia, Erric Knight, Crystal McClendon, Jasmine Bertrand, Charles Dixon, Ivan Dixon, Edmond Dixon; great-grandchildren, Essence Dalton, Destiny Dalton, Isabella Knight, Alexander Knight, Killian Bowman, Jemel Dixon, Leah Dixon, Jacques Bertrand, Myra Dixon. The family will receive friends at Woody Funeral Home - Huguenot chapel on Wednesday, September 16 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A funeral service will take place on Thursday, September 17 at 11 AM at Virginia Veteran's Cemetery.
