James Ernest Dillon was born in San Francisco April 19, 1929 to his beloved parents, James and Johanna Dillon. Jim was the firstborn of three children and is survived by his sister, Joan Faix and brother, Ray Dillon. He had a happy childhood with two loving parents and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Jim graduated from Balboa High School in 1947 and shortly after that, he was drafted into the United States Army and served as a combat infantryman in the Korean War Conflict. After his honorable discharge in 1953 he returned to San Francisco and in 1959 he met Betty Anna Harmon, fell in love, and they married August 1, 1959. They resided in South San Francisco, near Jim’s family, for seven years and started a family of four children, Matt, Mark, David and Debbie. They were together for over 57 years until Betty’s passing March 1, 2017.
In 1966 Jim moved his young family out of South San Francisco to Concord, CA where there was more sunshine and booming suburbs. In the late 70’s he moved the family, again, to Redding, CA where he would eventually retire. Even though Jim moved away from the San Francisco Bay Area, it never left his heart, and as a native San Franciscan, he was a diehard 49er, Giants and Warriors fan.
Jim was a lithographer by trade, operating large printing presses in The City and in Redding. The nature of his trade obliged him to a career of many graveyard and swing shifts which never seemed to bother him, and the work ethic example he set continues to this day. Some of the things Jim enjoyed when he wasn't working was listening to music, watching movies, and swimming in his pool, especially with his children and grandchildren.
The things Jim will be remembered most for was his love of family and the faith he held for his Lord and savior, Jesus—whom he gave all the credit to. He was a stable, iconic and very traditional male figure who was available to all persons, not just family, and offered his gifts of warmth, humor, wisdom and peace. Jim is survived by his four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, and six great grandchildren, his brother and sister and nieces and nephews.
Our father was greatly loved and will be remembered and missed by all he left behind.
