Dempsey Eugene Dixon Sr.

Dempsey Eugene Dixon Sr., age 78, of Vandalia, MO passed away at 2:30 pm Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Columbia, MO.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, September 11, 2020 at the Waters Funeral Home in Vandalia. Rev. Melvin McCaleb will officiate. Burial with full military honors will be in the Vandalia Cemetery following the service.

A visitation celebrating the life of Dempsey Eugene Dixon Sr. will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm Thursday September 10, 2020 at the Waters Funeral Home.

Dempsey was born on January 20, 1942, in Vandalia, Missouri the son of Thomas Charles and Nonie Marie (Wilson) Dixon.

He was united in marriage to Gene Ann Redd on September 1, 1973 in Clarksville, Missouri. She survives him of the home.

Other survivors include two sons, Dempsey Dixon Jr. of Mount Pleasant, IA, Richard Damon Redd of Bonne Terre, MO; three daughters, Jolene Ann Dixon of Vandalia, Melissa Jean Redd of Vandalia, Nikki Lee of Fulton, MO; one brother, Walter Dixon of Vandalia; two sisters, Dorothy (Herman) Miles of Columbia, MO, Aisha Abdelnassar of Kansas City, MO; three brothers in law, James Wheeler of Vandalia, Harold Wheeler of Davenport, IA, Christopher (Teresa) Redd of Springfield, IL; two sisters in law, Daisy (Frank) Warren of Clarksville, MO, Fannie (Billy) Carter of Davenport, IA; five grandchildren, Ciarria (Jeffrey) Underwood of Troy, MO, Jaselle Brookins of Vandalia, Danasia Pittman of Fulton, MO, Daniel Pittman of Fulton, MO, Danniqua Pittmann of Arizona; ten great grandchildren and many more loved nieces, nephews, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Maurice Dixon, Harold Dixon, Donald Dixon, Robert Dixon; infant brother, Charles Dixon and granddaughter, Menisha Thomas.

Dempsey attended the Lincoln School and Vandalia High School before going to proudly serve his country in the United States Army from 1967 to 1969. Dempsey was very active in his community and loved serving people. He served as a deputy for the Audrain County Sheriff’s Department, a police officer for the Vandalia Police Department, a EMT for the Van-Far Ambulance District and an Alderman for the City of Vandalia. Dempsey worked for Harbison Walker International Refractory in Vandalia retiring in 2012. While employed there he served as the president of the employees union.

He was a member of Second Christian Church in Vandalia and loved his church family. He proudly served the church as a past Deacon and Vice President of the congregation. Dempsey enjoyed fishing, hunting and building furniture. His family and friends were his biggest love in life.

Pallbearers will be Dometric Wheeler, David Davis, Decarlo (Boney) Hutt, William (Billy) Wheeler, Rodney Ferguson, Wendell Wheeler, Jeffery Underwood.

Honorary pallbearers are William Wheeler, Sr., Ronnie Greene, Christopher Redd, Jamie Wheeler, Marvin Davis, Calvin Miles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Waters Funeral Home to assist the family with funeral expenses.

Online condolences may be made to the family on Dempsey memorial page at www.watersfuneral.com