Obituary for Delmar Dixon

Delmar Dean Dixon, longtime Ponca City resident, died Saturday evening August 1, 2015 at the Via Christi Assisted Living Center. He was 91 years of age.

Delmar was born September 6, 1923 in Billings, Oklahoma, the son of Fred Dixon and Gladys (Lemmons) Dixon Simmering. He attended the Billings and Orlando Schools and graduated with the class of 1941. He joined the Merchant Marines and during his three years of service he saw Cuba, Puerto Rico, Italy, Belgium and Africa. According to Delmar, the Merchant Marine crewman transported goods from the U.S. to overseas to aid in the war effort. Delmar helped transport horses to Belgium and five gallon cans of gasoline to Italy for fueling the amphibious vehicles to be used in the invasion of Normandy. There were two trips to Africa to deliver tanks for the Calvary. The trip to Cuba was to load sugar. Upon his discharge in 1946 in New York, he hitchhiked home to Ponca City.

On October 10, 1947 he married Betty Dufek in Oklahoma City. This union lasted 30 years, having one son, Shane Dixon, who was a 1973 graduate of Ponca City Senior High. Shane, who became a well known Hollywood stuntman, preceded him in death in 1999. Delmar was so proud of Shane and actually was able to have a ”stand in” part in one of his movies. He worked as a field tester for Phillips 66 Oil Company, retiring in 1984 with 42 years of employment.

Delmar was an avid fisherman. He loved to visit and had made so many friends through the years. He loved going to the Casino’s and just getting out in general. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church. In June, 2013 Delmar was invited to join ”Oklahoma Honor Flight and traveled to Washington D.C.

Survivors include his ex-wife B.J. Dixon and his special friend, Delores ” Dee” Harbeson , both of Ponca City; nephew, Larry Eisenhauer of Dallas, Texas, and many cousins, including Winifred Porter and family of Oklahoma City. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Shane Dixon and his Sister, Virginia Eisenhauer.

Family Visitation will be held on Monday evening at Grace Memorial Chapel from 6-8 p.m.

Memorial Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at Grace Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jeremy May of the First Lutheran Church officiating. Interment will follow at in the Union Cemetery in Billings, Oklahoma. There will be no viewing.

The Family would like to thank Via Christi for taking care of Delmar and especially Brenda who treated Delmar with such kindness.

Memorial Contributions may be made in his name to: First Lutheran Scholarship Fund, 1104 N. 4th St., Ponca City, OK 74601