Retired, Lt. DSP LEWES - John W. Dickson, of Lewes, passed away Monday, June 13, 2011, at the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. John was born on May 23, 1943, in Great Falls, Mont., where he attended school, and graduated from Great Falls H.S. in 1962. John joined the Navy in Feb. 1963 & served for 4 yrs. Shortly after his active duty in 1967 he joined Milford Police Department, serving as a patrolman until the DE State Police hired him Jan. 1st 1968. John served many admirable posts and positions within the state police, and retired as a Lieutenant on Jan 1st 1988. During his service with the DSP, he was a founding member of the S.C.U.B.A. team (14 yrs), the Law Enforcement Explorers, (later becoming Trooper Youth Week). He also was one of the first five officers to operate Trooper Dan, participated in DE State Fair duty, and was a Youth Officer within local schools. He served at Troop 2 in Wilmington, Troop 4 in Georgetown, Troop 7 which was in Dewey Beach, now Lewes and went onto retire from the SusCom communication center. Subsequently after he retired, he worked at Tom Harold Buick and CP Diver as a Service Manager. He then re-entered public service in 1997 and worked as a special investigator at the Office of the Public Defender in Georgetown, retiring just a few weeks ago on May 31st 2011. John was also very active in the Masonic Lodge (#15 AF & AM) in Lewes. There he loved the work, and rose through the chairs to Master. He administered degrees as an instructor, and was a Past Junior Grand Warden for Delaware. He also served as a Past President and Degree Captain for the Lower Delaware Shield & Square. He enjoyed participating in the NUR Shrine and was team Captain of the mini corvette unit 5 times. John always regretted not having the time to go through the Masonic Chairs at the state level, but he always put family and other obligations first. John was also very active in his Church, Conley's Chapel, and recently the new Conley's church, where he was a frequent greeter, usher, and local Lay Leader and Speaker. He was in the Sussex East Camp of the Gideons, where he enjoyed handing out bibles, and placing them around free of charge as to silently help others receive the Word of GOD. John was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Arthur and Edna Dickson of Great Falls; a sister, Barbara Jones of Idaho; a brother, Sid Dickson of California; and his son, Robby Dickson of Lewes. John is survived by his loving wife, and partner of 24 ½ years, Mary Lou; a sister, Joyce Hillberry and her husband Richard of Florida; two daughters, Wendy Wall and her husband Bart of Lewes, Terri Cooke and her husband Bob of Dover; two step-sons, Chuck Riley and his companion Val Dickinson of Lewes, Mark Riley and his companion Alicia Purdy of Lewes; six grandchildren, Judson and Timothy Wall, Robert Cooke, Chase and Bethany Riley and Luke Riley; five nieces and three nephews. John had three other children whom he loved like grandchildren, Jackson Isaacs, and Brandon and Alina Ritter. He will be sadly missed by all. A funeral service will be 1 p.m., Saturday, June 18, at Conley's Methodist Chapel, 33106 Jolyns Way, Lewes, with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Conley's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in John's memory to, Conley's Methodist Church Building Fund, 33106 Jolyns Way, Lewes, DE 19958. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com.