Elbridge Hilton Dyson

Elbridge Hilton Dyson, born July 25, 1928, in Charlotte, North Carolina the eldest son to Mrs. Dennis H. Dyson (DeDe) and George E. Dyson. The family moved to La Jolla, California. When Dad was age 9, DeDe and the four children returned to Birmingham. They were welcomed home and helped to be raised by grandparents “Pappaw and Mammaw” Hydinger. Dad’s siblings were Mary Dyson Crawford, Alfred Dyson, and his surviving youngest sister, Betty Dyson Stanley.

Dad grew up on the Southside of Birmingham. He played marbles with friends for fun and took a part-time job working a paper route. After graduation from Ramsey High School, Dad enlisted in the U.S. Army. Dad liked telling us kids that many men in the company were tested for reflexes and he was chosen the fastest and best capable of driving the jeep for the Commanding Officer.

After his stint in the Army near the end of World War II, he traveled to study at The Art Institute of Chicago. He returned to Birmingham and took creative jobs designing and arranging sets in department stores.

In 1951, Dad’s life changed. He met Joan Crawford from Slocomb, Alabama who had moved to Birmingham to work. Dad, a city boy raised Catholic, married in 1952 this farm girl and Peanut Queen raised Baptist. The clash of differences often made them better.

When Dad fell in love and married, he shifted from art to business working primarily with Remington Rand, then U.S. Vitamin and Pharmaceutical Company, before joining the profession of his grandfather and uncles as financial consultant aka stockbroker. He started with First Birmingham Securities and retired from Merrill Lynch.

Dad loved to play golf and fish, plus he loved watching football and golf. He had a nickname, “Eb Tide,” partly because he loved cheering for Bear Bryant and the Alabama Crimson Tide. After children attended Auburn, he also cheered for Shug Jordan and Pat Sullivan. When Dad could watch the Masters, holding his tv remote, he was happy! Dad and Mom retired to their lake home 30 years ago. They loved views of the water, yard work, fishing, and quiet.

Dad loved talking about his family. He was so proud of his grandchildren and their spouses. He adored his great-grandchildren. He loved being Papa.

Eb Dyson is survived by his wife of 70 years, Joan Crawford Dyson; three children, Dr. David Dyson, Pam (Steve) Bryant, and Patty Thompson; five grandchildren, Lea (Bradley) Moore, John (Lauren) Bryant, Noah (Dr. Laura) Thompson, Joshua Thompson, and Hannah Thompson; and seven great-grandchildren, Bennett Moore, William Moore, Sam Moore, Brooks Bryant, Ann Bennett Bryant, Camp Bryant, and Liam Thompson, who call him Dad and Papa.

Dad’s favorite phrase seemed to be, “What’s the bottom line?” Try to tell him a story and often within a minute he would interrupt to ask about the point of the story, “What’s the bottom line?”

Well, Dad, the “bottom line” is,

❖ You lived an extraordinarily long life of almost 94 years.

❖ You enjoyed an extraordinarily long marriage of 70 years to an extraordinary woman.

❖ You started from humble beginnings and had a good career.

❖ You worked hard and provided for your family during your life and for the rest of Mom’s life.

❖ You helped coach your son’s little league baseball team and taught him to fish.

❖ You were a great daddy to two loving daughters.

❖ You have a family who loves you and will remember you.

A simple family graveside service will take place on Friday, January 28, at Southern Heritage in Pelham, with Rev. Dwight Wymer, chaplain at Shelby Medical Center presiding, with music by Roman Street. A family gathering at the home of Steve and Pam Bryant in Vestavia will follow.

If considering flowers, consider support of a nonprofit program near and dear to the family:

Compassion Ranch (animal sanctuary and education center): www.CompassionRanch.org

354 County Road 33 / Calera, Alabama 35040 / [email protected]