March 23, 1940 - May 30, 2024
George Archie Dixon was born March 23, 1940, in Buena Vista, Oregon to George and Mattie Dixon. During his childhood he lived in Independence, Oregon and had stories of being in the hop fields as a small child and remembering seeing the people in the Japanese Internment Camp there. They lived in Vernonia, Oregon as well before moving to Wilder, Idaho where he was living when he was saved and gave his life to Christ at 15 years old, a very important milestone in his life. He followed his older brother Herb and wife Maggie back to Salem from Idaho and finished high school at North Salem High School in 1958. He was proud to say that he actually graduated from high school in Idaho and Oregon as he was awarded a diploma from both.
He started working in gas stations in Idaho during high school and it was at his brother’s station “Herb’s Golden Eagle” that where he was working following graduation where he met Mary Philp who he would later marry. During his marriage to Mary, they lived in West Salem and there they welcomed five children: Dianna, Dennis, Danny, Suzanne and Angela.
Archie was always working hard and owned and operated many service stations around Salem during his life including his brother’s old station on the Dallas Highway which was then called “Archie’s Harbor Service Station.” He also worked as a mechanic at the stations for years and also at a Ford dealership in Independence and then transitioned into selling wood stoves at his station and at a small shop in West Salem. When his last station and the wood stove business closed, Archie drove truck for his Uncle Dale Dixon and planned to purchase two trucks to start Dixon and Son Trucking when he was involved in a serious auto-collision that ended that dream and changed his life after severe injuries and many months of recovery. He spent years working for Meyer Nursery and Orchard where he was their mechanic, drove tractors and trucks delivering trees where he enjoyed living and working on the farm. Later in life Archie returned to working at gas stations for many years before “retiring” in his late seventies to become a caregiver to an elderly gentlemen for four years until he passed away. He was in another serious accident just after this which slowed him down a bit but he worked hard to recover and get out and about. When he did not have a car available to drive, he started riding his chopper bike around town.
During all of this time, Archie was praying for those around him and doing everything he could to lead others to Christ. For years he drove a church van on Sundays and Wednesday nights to make sure others could come to church. He worked so that he would be able to help others and possibly get a chance to tell them about Jesus. He actually lead many in The Sinner’s Prayer while working at gas stations or witnessing and praying for people while installing wood stoves or really anywhere he was, whether working, shopping, walking down the street or on a Cherriots bus in his later years. He never met someone he could not talk to and was always there to help where he could, often going without himself to help those around him. Whether providing free mechanic services, a place to stay, a car to drive, cutting lawns for those who needed while in his eighties himself or buying groceries for those around him…his generosity knew no bounds. Archie will be remembered fondly for his love of Jesus Christ, his selflessness, his love of old cars, westerns and, of course, Roy Rogers for whom he was a fan from an early age.
Archie was preceded in death by his mother Mattie (“Dixie”) Barber Dixon Kerl, his father George William Dixon and step-parents Clyde Kerl and Madge Dixon as well as his sister Elanore, brother Herb, brother Rick, stepsiblings Ester, LD and Vernon, ex-wife Mary Schultz and also his son Danny who died shortly after birth. He is survived by his remaining children: Dianna Kroeker, Dennis Dixon, Suzanne Pierce and Angela Schultz Lyda, their spouses, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers or in memory of George Archie Dixon, please make donations to the Union Gospel Mission of Salem. 777 Commercial Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Following the viewing, Archie’s children invite you to join for a time of storytelling and fellowship remembering Archie at Walery’s Pizza in West Salem from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Walery’s Pizza is located at 1555 Edgewater Street NW, Salem.
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