Aug 20, 2009 3 min read

John William “Bill” Dillon formerly of Uniontown, Pennsylvania died at home with his daughter and her family in Medford, New Jersey on Tuesday, August 18. Born July 20, 1919, he was just 90 years old. As Supervisor with the Pennsylvania State Employment Service, Mr. Dillon spent his career assisting individuals to find jobs and meaningful work.

Prior to his long career in state government, he owned and operated an automobile service station on Main Street in Uniontown and prior to that, worked for the Union Supply Store in New Salem, Pa.

During World War II, he volunteered and served as Staff Sergeant with the 2512d AAF Base Unit, United States Army in Europe and Iceland.

Mr. Dillon, born and raised in Masontown, Pennsylvania was the oldest of eleven children.

While working in New Salem, he met, and on January 4, 1945, married the former Wilma Jean Ryan, now deceased. They had four daughters: Patricia Jean (Daniel M.) Black, who predeceased him; Maribeth (David S.) Renne of Medford, New Jersey; Colleen Dillon Parkman of Southern California; and Janine Marie Dillon of both Deer Lake and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Dillon had five loving grandchildren: Daniel Michael Black Jr. of Washington, D.C.; Joan Marie Black of Nottingham, Maryland; Christopher Dillon Renne and Elizabeth Dillon Renne of Medford, New Jersey; and Ciara M. Parkman of Southern California.

“Bill” was an early pioneer in his studies of meditation and self-hypnosis and guided his daughters, grandchildren and others in these practices from the time they were all very young. He believed in the power of positive thinking and practiced relaxation techniques for most of his 90 years.

Mr. Dillon was an early graduate of Dale Carnegie Training and was an avid aviation enthusiast, earning his pilot license.

He was a volunteer for the Fayette County Meals on Wheels Program for many years and recently received the 2008 Award at the Summer Conference of the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging.

In addition to his children, sons-in-law and grandchildren, he is also survived by his brothers: James Dillon of Deer Lake and Paul (Lynn) Dillon of Uniontown; sisters: Elizabeth Murtha of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Patricia Lombardo of Bloomfield, Michigan, and Florence (Henry) Sidorowicz of Smithtown, New York; and brother-and-sister-in-law, Dave and Pat Whitlock of New Salem, Pennsylvania.

A Military Funeral for Mr. Dillon will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 12 Noon at LaFAYETTE MEMORIAL PARK, Brier Hill, Pennsylvania.

Arrangements are under the direction of the DEARTH FUNERAL HOME, New Salem, Pennsylvania.

A luncheon will follow.