Donald E. Dillon

Donald E. Dillon, 73, of 818 Dogwood Drive, Meadville, died Wednesday, October 08, 2003 at Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh.

He was born November 2, 1929 in Franklin, PA a son of Oscar W. and Maude Gilmore Dillon.  He married Bonnie L. Carson May 2, 1953 and she survives.

He began his career in 1948 with Loblaws Grocery Stores as a meat cutter, progressing to meat manager, meat buyer and the Youngstown-Pittsburgh area divisional meat operator and was involved in the opening of 85 Loblaws stores.  In 1964 he founded J & J Portion Control Meats, Inc., building the new plant on Mercer Pike in 1967 and then expanding in 1974.  He retired as President and CEO in 1989.

He was a 35-year member of the Meadville Redevelopment Authority and a founding board member of the Crawford County Development Corp.  In November of 2002, in honor of his long time involvement with area economic development projects a three story building in the Crawford County Industrial Park in Vernon Twp. was named the Donald E. Dillon Gallery and Center.

He was a 17-year Executive Committee and Board of Directors member of the former Spencer Hospital and he served on the committee that facilitated the merger and creation of the Meadville Medical Center.

He was also past President (1972-73) of the Chamber of Commerce, member of SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives), former board member (1994-98) of the Certified Angus Beef Marketing Board, 17 year board member of the National Association of Meat Purveyors, board member of Wesbury Foundation and Greendale Cemetery Assoc., life member of Meadville Elks Lodge #219 and a member of the Meadville Country Club.

He was a 1947 graduate of Titusville High School and he served in the US Army from 1951-53 in Germany.  He enjoyed golfing and especially spending time with his grandchildren.

He was a member of First Christian Church, Meadville, a Deacon and former trustee and member of the finance committee.

Survivors, in addition to his wife of 50 years, include a daughter, Jan R. VanTuil and her husband Kurt of Meadville; four grandchildren, Benjamin J. VanTuil, Candice J. VanTuil, Christy J. Futrell and Laurie F. Cowger; two step grandchildren, Rachel M. Pratt and John Michael Pratt; one great grandson; three brothers, Oscar W. Dillon and his wife Jane of Lexington, KY, Paul R. Dillon and his wife Isabel of Naturita, CO and Glen E. Dillon and his wife Patsy of Meredith, NH; a son-in-law, Jon D. Pratt of Newton Falls, OH; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jill Pratt.

Calling hours will be Saturday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.

The funeral service will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, 503 N. Main St., Meadville with the Rev. Dr. Terry Clark, officiating and assisted by the Rev. James Clark, Youth Minister.

Burial will be in Greendale Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials be made to First Christian Church, 503 N. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335 or Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community, 31 N. Park Avenue, Meadville, PA 16335.