Jerry Holmes Dixon

A private visitation for Jerry will be held Monday, December 19 at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, followed by a private military service at Willamette National Cemetery.

Jerry Holmes Dixon, age 83, of Vancouver, WA, passed away on Tuesday 6 December 2022, after a short battle with complications arising from the flu. He was surrounded by his loving family in his final hours.

Jerry arrived in the world on 30 May 1939, at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, OR, to join his older sister Karen and complete the family of Edgar “Dick” and Isobel “Meike” Dixon. After an active childhood in various parts of Portland, Jerry attended Linclon High School, where he lettered in basketball, football and baseball. He was also an enthusiastic Sea Scout, an interest which led, after his graduation in 1957, to a stint at the Millard School, in preparation for seeking an appointment to Annapolis. Unfortunately injuries from a serious car accident derailed those plans, and he instead attended the University of Portland for several years, before being drafted into the US Army.

Jerry served in the US Army for 2 years at Fort Irwin in Barstow, CA where he received several awards for his marksmanship and shooting skills. After leaving the military, Jerry explored a variety of jobs, including working with his father in the Dillingham shipyards on Swan Island. He eventually settled into what would become a 26-year career as an industrial engineering manager for Boeing of Portland. He retired in 1994, at age 55, to enjoy more time with his family and hobbies, the latter of which included golf, fishing and,

most of all, classic cars.

His world was made infinitely brighter in 1973 when Joanne Ritchie and her two daughters, Cindy and Lisa, entered his heart and his life. On their first date Jerry took Jo to dinner at the Lido, followed by a show featuring Sammy Davis, Jr… and the rest is history!

Even though it meant giving up his own long-time nickname of “Joe” he married Jo in 1977, beginning their 45 years together. Over those decades their family grew to include two grandchildren and then two great-grandchildren. After his retirement, the couple moved from Gresham to Vancouver and a beautiful home near the Royal Oaks Golf Club. Jerry had a life-long love of classic cars, and spent many years restoring his beloved silverblue ’67 Barracuda Formula S (in fact, the very car in which he squired around his future wife on that first date). This automotive passion was passed down to both his daughters, who still own their own classic cars. The whole family has long been involved in the Cascade Pacific Plymouth Club, where Jerry and Jo served as board members and boosters for many years. Annual trips to Reno and Hot August Nights were a staple of the retirement years, as were the many club Cruise-ins they participated in each year in the Portland-Vancouver area.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his wife, Joanne Dixon, his daughters Cindy Norlen and Lisa Conner, his sister Karen Haber, his grandchildren Kaela Salaz and Andrew Norlen, and his two great-grandchildren Jaxon and Marlie Salaz. He also leaves behind a host of other relatives, in-laws, and great friends too numerous to mention here.

Jerry will be accorded military honors during a private service at Willamette National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held February 18th from 1pm to 5pm at the Gateway- Gresham Elks, located at 3330 NE Division Street, Gresham OR 97030.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the VFW, or the Humane Society of Southwest Washington.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Dixon family.