John R. Dickerson Sr., 74

CAMBRIDGE - John R. (Bob-Big Boy) Dickerson Sr., 74, of Cambridge, passed away Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, in Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge, Md., after a short illness. John was born in Cambridge on Aug. 10, 1934, and was a son of the late John T. and Evelyn Parks Dickerson. He attended schools in Cambridge and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1952. John served in the U.S. Army from Oct. 5, 1954 until he was Honorably Discharged on Dec. 12, 1958. While in the Army he had served in Germany. He had worked as a bricklayer for most of his life for Allen L. Tyler & Sons. He also operated Big Boy's Restaurant & Bar on Rt 16 near East New Market. On Sept. 15, 1990, he was married to Lorraine Whaples. Big Boy and Lorraine were active in the VFW for many years. They both held many offices in the VFW on the national, state and local levels. He was a Past Commander at Chesapeake Post 7460 VFW as well as a Special Aide-De Camp of the VFW. She passed away on Aug. 1, 2004. To say that he was an avid hunter and fisherman would be an understatement, he loved it! He had been in failing health for the past year and had just returned from a hunting trip to West Virginia and was taken to Dorchester General Hospital on Friday afternoon where he passed away. Survivors include a son, John R. Dickerson Jr. of Florida; a stepdaughter, Darlene Erich; a stepson, John Whaples of Perry Hall; one sister, Dorothy Parks of Woolford; three brothers, Walter S. Dickerson of Cambridge, Clement T. Dickerson of Haysville, Kan., and Joseph M. Dickerson of Cambridge; eight nieces, Irene Hitchens, Beth Todd, Mary Griggs, Donna Dickerson, Lisa Dickerson, Patti Dickerson, Beverly Dickerson, Holly Dickerson; and five nephews, David Parker, Jerry Parker, Donald Dickerson, Edward Dickerson and John Dickerson. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Judith Dickerson, Lillian Dickerson, Catherine Dickerson and Betty DePaul; and three brothers, Edward C. Dickerson, William Dickerson and James Dickerson. A funeral service will be held on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Thomas Funeral Home in Cambridge, with the Rev. A. Delmer Willey Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Pallbearers will be David Parker, Jerry Parker, Donald Dickerson, Beverly Dickerson, Jason Dickerson and Bernie Dickerson.