Paul Bevis Dickson, age 88, was born December 15, 1930 in Bascom, FL to the late Ida Clara (Hart) and Robert Long Dickson, Sr. After graduating from Marianna High, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During 30 years of distinguished service in the Vietnam War, the Korean War and 3 tours in the Antarctic, where during his 50's tour, he helped map the Antarctic. To honor this achievement, a pillar off McMurdo Sound was named after him. The Navy sent him to USC to learn how to make training movies that he later made using Hollywood actors. Another tour of note was his assignment to Washington, DC, during which he was privileged to develop the personal film of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of President John F. Kennedy. His final tour was here in Pensacola, FL. Upon retirement he worked selling real estate, Apple computers, and then he fully retired after teaching for several years at Catholic High.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, James Whitfield Dickson, Robert Long Dickson, Jr., his first wife Alberta Dickson, whom he married April 23, 1955 in Pensacola, FL, (she passed January 23, 2003); and son Robin Paul Dickson. He is survived by his wife Judith Anne (Veal Burleson) Dickson, married since February 9, 2004 in Pensacola, FL; Robin's children, Heather McCormack (Tyson), Rachael Odell and widow, Jennifer Kelsey Dickson Lawhorne; son, Dennis David Dickson (Pamela Sue (Vause)), their children, Brandie Camille Scales (Patrick), and Brittany Nicole Jones (Benjamin); son, Stephen Joseph Dickson (Mary Rita (Wood)), their children Stephanie Marie and William Bryant (Jennifer), their daughter Teresa Ann Sandsted (William Scott) and their children, Ryan Christopher and Kristin Nicole. He is also survived by 5 great grandchildren, Avaline, Patrick, Braxton, Liam, and Eli.
Visitation for Mr. Dickson will be on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Oak Lawn Funeral Home. Mass will take place on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, 10:15 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 10650 Gulf Beach Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32507, with interment to follow at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola, 12:00 pm.
