Bob Dillon

Bob was born July 24, 1923 in Lorain, OH and was raised by his mother and her family. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps early in WWII,Bob_D004 learning the trade of a radio repairman. Among his military adventures, he survived unscathed when the plane in which he was a passenger belly-flopped on the runway in its attempt to land. His keen intelligence quickly became apparent and he was sent to officer candidate school that he completed, but was never promoted. In order to receive his “bars”, the Marines wanted him to extend his enlistment which Bob elected not to do, thereby avoiding duty in the Korean war. 
 
Bob_D005After the war, Bob attended the University of Michigan on the GI Bill where he received his bachelor’s degree in psychology. While at the university, he met the love of his life, Geraldine Berry (also a former Marine). They were married 1951.
 
Always adventurous, Bob and Gerry relocated to Kenmore, WA shortly afterwards. Bob worked at Knoll Lumber & Hardware where he demonstrated a strong talent for creating award winning merchandising displays. Afterwards, he joined Boeing as a project manager on the Minuteman Missile program where he authored extensive supporting documentation for the program’s operation and design.
 
Finally finding his professional passion, Bob became a real estate developer, forming the lifelong partnership of Loveless & Dillon with his friend Rod Loveless. During his real estate career, he designed and built several homes that were architecturally noteworthy, twice being featured in local magazines. Bob remained active in the L&D partnership until his death.
 
Bob designed and built his family home in Kirkland early in his marriage where he and Gerry raised their children Keith, Kathy, Chris and Larry. He and Gerry, along with their children, formed strong ties to the First Baptist Church of Kirkland where he was active for most of his Bob_&_Gerry002adult life. He was a deacon in the church for many years, organizing and leading youth groups on several evangelical trips to California. Bob was also a great student of Christianity, reading voraciously and compiling an extensive library of religious texts that included many rare and out-of-print treatises. Bob’s faith and love of Christ was a defining element throughout his life.
                                                                             
From his teenage years, Bob always had a love of cars. When his growing family needed a station wagon, Bob bought one with the biggest motor available at the time. Bob never met a car he didn’t make (or want to make) go faster. He had an extreme love of driving, living his philosophy of “Why pick up the phone when I can drive to see someone?” When his new son-in-law introduced him to motorcycles, Bob bought the fastest motorcycle available, taking trips with his daughter (on her own motorcycle) throughout the northwest and Canada. His son Larry accompanied him on many automobile road trips, bringing back stories of their adventures to regale the family with.
 
Bob’s love of driving was coupled with his love of nature. For years, whenever Bob got into the car for a day trip, he brought along a cardboardBob_D011 box or two and a shovel, returning home hours later with young trees, ferns and bushes that he transplanted to his home. If you visit his home now, there are many of these transplants thriving in his yard, accompanied by dozens of large river rocks that he collected along the way. He said that he always felt connected to trees and nature in a way he couldn’t explain.
 
Bob’s extensive travels by car had the unexpected benefit of making him one of the region’s leading authorities on small diners and cafés. If you were anywhere west of the Rockies, Bob could tell you where to get a great sandwich, a piece of pie or a bowl of soup. Bob and his partner Rod made many a friendly wager over the years, the loser buying both of them pieces of pie at their favorite bakery in Issaquah. And when Bob had a hankering for a particular meal, he was known to get in his car and drive a couple of hours just to satisfy his craving. Bob was a ‘foodie’ before the term was ever coined.
 
In later years, Bob was frequently accompanied on his trips by a canine companion. Bob loved his dogs and to say that they were spoiled is a bit of an understatement.
 
Bob passed in the early morning of March 29th, 2014, and is survived by his wife of 63 years, Geraldine, his oldest son Keith (Freddie) Dillon, daughter Kathy (Stan) JauJou and son Chris Dillon. He was sadly preceded in death by his youngest son Larry.
 
A celebration of his life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Kirkland, 701 First Street, Kirkland, WA on Friday, April 11th. Viewing will begin at 10:00 AM and services will start at 11:00 AM. Friends and family are encouraged to come and share their memories of Bob as we all celebrate a life well lived.

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