William “Bill” Steinman Dickson, 83, of Beaumont who was born July 21, 1924 and died on April 19, 2008. His parents were James Aubrey Dickson, Sr. and Ethel Steinman Dickson. He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Marie Maschek Dickson; his children, Richard “Dick” Dickson and his wife, Cindy, Carole Dickson Handley, and her husband Mark, and by his daughter Grace Marie Dickson. He is survived by his brother, J. Aubrey Dickson, Jr. and his wife Betty. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Jennifer Dickson Jester, Lance Dickson, Chad Dickson, Melissa Dickson, William Reed Handley and Matthew David Handley, who is now serving his country in Iraq; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Mr. Dickson attended schools in Beaumont and after graduating from Beaumont High School in 1941, he volunteered for the Army Air Corps, where he served for three years as a radio gunner in a B-17 bomber in and over the skies of Italy.
After the war, he returned to Beaumont and enrolled at Texas A&M University. After graduation he followed in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, F.W. Steinman and his uncle, D.E. Steinman, who were long time architects in this area. A partnership was formed with his brother, J. Aubrey Dickson, Jr., who was a mechanical engineer. They were later joined by two other partners. He retired after thirty years, and the skyline of Beaumont reflects some of his work.
Mr. Dickson loved his Lord and his church. After retirement he and his family moved to Newton, where they were engaged in the growing of peaches. He took great pride in the lovely fruit that were the result of his labors.
Later they move to McAllen and lived there for a time before returning to Beaumont in 1997. Shortly after returning to Beaumont his health began to deteriorate and he was ill until the time of his death.
His family wished to express thanks to his caregivers, Becky Rushing, Joe Smart, Rhonda Hamilton, and other caregivers all whom worked tirelessly to insure that he was comfortable and well cared for.
Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of family and friends will begin 10:00 A.M. until service time on Tuesday at the mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to send memorials may send them to The Cathedral in the Pines Mission Fund, 2350 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, Texas 77703 or charity of choice.
