Philip Henry Dixon Jr., 71

DOVER - Philip Henry Dixon Jr., of Dover, departed this life Friday, May 16, 2008, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 71.

Philip was born in Dover on Feb. 4, 1937, to the late Philip Dixon Sr. and Lillian Dixon.

He graduated from William Henry High in 1956 and was a graduate of Technical Trade School, where he received a degree in art and a degree in technology for foreign cars.

Philip loved to hunt and fish, and would share his passion with anyone and everyone.

During his illness he loved to be driven by the fishing ponds to see if the tides were up and take drives in the country in the truck he loved.

He was the same way about his church, Emmanuel A.M.E.

In his free time, Philip enjoyed reading and collecting comic books, porcelain and stuffed dogs.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Evelyn C. Dixon, on March 15, 1958.

Philip was a very active and devoted member of Emmanuel A.M.E. Church, Hartly.

He served in the following capacities: member of the church school, Steward Board (Emeritus), Class No. 1. Trustee Board, Sons of Allen, men's choir, Board of Christian Education and was the past president of the senior choir for 18 years.

Mr. Dixon was a participant of first federal holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1986.

He received the Outstanding Historical Achievement of South Carolina, was a past Boy Scout troop master of Troop 248 and served as the district commissioner for Boy Scouts local area (Hartly).

In addition to his parents, Philip was preceded in death by two daughters, Evelyn Cassandra Dixon and Sheila Ann Harmon.

Philip will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Evelyn Watson Dixon of Dover; one son, Philip Dixon and his wife Thelma of Felton; two daughters, Cheryl Pitts and her husband John of Dover and Charlotte Trower of Smyrna; eight grandchildren, William Gibbs Jr., Brandon Dixon, Roteasha Gibbs, Jeffery Dixon, Areysha Freeman, Shantel Dixon, Trevon Trower and Shaliyah Greene; four brothers, Preston Bessix and his wife Naomi of Star Hill, Andrew Sullivan and his wife Bessie of Aberdeen, Md., the Rev. Walter Dixon and his wife Consdevella of Smyrna and Harry Dixon and his wife Debbie of Dover; two sisters, Charlotte Tull of Harrington and Bertha Green and her husband Tom of New Jersey; four sisters-in-law, Bessie Brokenbrough of Dover, Iris Turner and her husband Richard of Salisbury, Md., Della Harris of Wilmington and Darlene Lee of Smyrna; three brothers-in-law, Jimmy Watson and his wife Edith of Smyrna, Allee Watson Jr. of New Castle and Samuel Watson and his wife Linda of New Castle; special cousins, Thomas and Greta Fountain, Blanche Wisher, Betty Wisher and Robert Fountain; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A celebration of life for Mr. Dixon will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Emmanuel A.M.E. Church, 1755 Lockwood Chapel Road, Hartly.

A viewing will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. at the church.

Interment will be in the Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.

Arrangements are by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.