Ralph L. Dillon

Ralph L. Dillon, age 74, 2 Kent Road, Bloomsburg, died at 9:45 p. m. Thursday, August 6, 2009 at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was a patient for five weeks. He was in failing health for several months.

Born in Bloomsburg on August 3, 1935, he was a son of the late Harold and Dorothy (John) Dillon.

Ralph was a 1953 graduate of Bloomsburg High School and a 1957 graduate of Bucknell, University, Lewisburg.

He owned Ralph Dillon's Flowers, Bloomsburg from 1961 to 2007 and also operated a shop in Sunbury since 1970.

Ralph was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Bloomsburg.

He was a longtime member of the Bloomsburg Rotary Club, where he was a past president and Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of Washington Lodge 265, F &AM and Caldwell Consistory; a life member of the Bloomsburg Elks Lodge 436; and a director of the former United Penn Bank, all of Bloomsburg.

Ralph was active in many community activities and a strong supporter of the downtown business community. He was a member of the Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce and was formerly active with the Downtown Bloomsburg Business Division.

He served on the Bloomsburg Planning Commission; the Bloomsburg Town Parking Authority; Columbia County Redevelopment Authority; and as a , volunteer for the Columbia County United Way.

At Bucknell he was a member of the ROTC and following graduation served two years in the US Army. In high school he played the saxophone in the band and later had his own band, "The Mello Dears".

His wife, the former Carolyn J. Hoch, preceded him in death on March 14, 2008. Surviving are three sons: Ralph Craig Dillon, and his wife Debora (correct), Bloomsburg; Steven L. Dillon, and his wife Deborah (correct), McKean; Christopher M. Dillon, and his wife Joanna P., Bloomsburg; five grandchildren; and a brother Harold P. "Flip" Dillon, II, and his wife Ann, Jasper, GA.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 10 a. m. in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, E. Main & Iron Streets, Bloomsburg, with the Rev. Marjorie A. Menaul, rector of the Church officiating. Private interment in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy.

Friends may call on Monday from 6-8 p. m. at the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.

Memorials may be sent to the Bloomsburg Rotary Club, P. O. Box 842, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.