Todd H. Dixon

Major Todd H. Dixon passed on August 14th, 2026, at the age of 88. He was born on July 13, 1938, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Edward Ralph Dixon and Isabel Hannum Dixon. He is survived by his wife, Mary Michael Sandahl Dixon of Oviedo, Fla., and children Molly Ann Sandahl Embry, Oviedo, Fla.; Megan Michele Sandahl Dixon, Bloomington, Minn.; Marla Kay Sandahl Collins, Oviedo, Fla.; and Todd William Dixon, Breitbrunn, Germany, as well as 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Connie Lou Frieze of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and many loving nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Col. and Mrs. Edward R. Dixon, and brother Richard Edward Dixon of Duncan, Okla.

Todd attended the USAF Academy and graduated from University of Bridgeport, Conn. before embarking on a military career as a United States Air Force fighter pilot. He served multiple combat tours in Vietnam, and served in Germany during the Cold War where he met his wife Mary Michael Sandahl. He also served in Korea, Turkey and numerous assignments in the Far East as well as in the States. Todd received a multitude of military awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross with clusters. He always treasured his lifelong military friends made while serving his country. He was lovingly referred to as “The Red Fox,” which was his call sign as a pilot.

Todd retired from the USAF in 1984, and moved with the family to Palm Harbor, Fla. where he resided for the next 20 years. While there he was employed in retail management and teaching high school students. He and his wife eventually moved to Oviedo, Fla. to be closer to his grandchildren which were the light of his life.

Red Fox had a fabulous sense of humor and loved to laugh which was not lost on the Hagerty High School students where he and his wife taught over the next 18 years as substitute teachers. While on a vacation in Germany he received a call from the president of the junior class asking them to ride on their homecoming float as the “UP” couple. They agreed and won first place at the young age of 80! The next year the request came again from the senior class and they rode the homecoming float as “The Mardi Gras Couple” and won again. Todd also became famous at Hagerty HS for the unique shirts he would wear.

Along with his love of teaching, he enjoyed evening card games with family and went to church each Sunday. He embraced the challenge of planning exciting international trips and was well known for leaving early to be on time for every event, sometimes hours early. His famous call to family members trying to get dressed was, “THE BUS IS LEAVING!!!!!”

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers for he is surely missed.

FLY HIGH RED FOX!

In lieu of flowers, his favorite charities are:

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Towers to Tunnels

The American Legion

Orlando Rescue Mission

Mercy Ships

Operation Smile

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls (Chicago based Catholic children’s charity)