Bert Richard Dillard (1926 - 2010)

Born 1 May 1926 in Bristow, Creek, Oklahoma

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 5 Dec 2010 at age 84 in Salem, Marion, Oregon

Biography

SALEM - Bert Dillard passed away on December 5, 2010 with his loving family by his side. Born May 1, 1926 in Bristow, OK to Roy Dillard and Nannie Ferns Dillard, he lost his mother at the age of 5 in an automobile accident, and spent much of his early life with various family members.

At the age of 15, with the Rose family, he joined the Iron Workers Local 433 in Los Angeles, CA. At the age of 18, he served with the U.S. Army in WWII as a Paratrooper. He was at the Liberation of the Philippines and the occupation of Japan. At the end of the war, he was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. He returned to Los Angeles and his family, he married Wynona Rose in 1949, they had known each other since the age of 9, and continued to work with the Iron Workers. He worked in all phases of steel construction and erection. His name is prominently noted all over California. His company placed President Franklin Roosevelt's personal train car. He supervised the construction of the monorail around Disneyland and placed the star atop the Matterhorn. He worked with his son, Gary, on the dismantle and retrofit of the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. And moved and retrofit the Spruce Goose. Bert also worked with the Atomic Energy Commission from 1949 to 1972 in Steel Construction. He retired in 1974 due to health issues. He then moved with his family to Northern California (Placerville) to enjoy the country life with family, dogs, and horses. He moved with wife, Wynona to Coquille, OR. In 1994 to be close to his children and grandchildren. They later moved to Salem to be close to health care.

Bert is preceded in death by his mother, Nannie; father, Roy; brothers, Leroy and Chester; sisters, Margie and Dena; nephew, George; and niece, Sandy.

He is survived by his wife of 61+ years, Wynona; son, Gary and wife Laura of Coquille; daughter, Teri and husband Steve of Salem; granddaughter, Wendy and husband Dustin of Corvallis; grandson, Ryan and wife Linda of Coquille; grandson, Kyle and wife Adrienne of Salem; and great-grandchildren, Cole, Madison, Jaeda, Jake, Ty, and Logan.

Bert was a member of the Hiram Masonic Lodge in El Dorado, CA. and the American Legion in Placerville, CA. He enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, watching football, holiday poker games, and horseback rides.

A private military/Masonic service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, January 24, 2011 at Willamette National Cemetery.

We will love you and miss you forever Dad/Papa.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal on January 23, 2011