Wasco County OR Archives Obituaries.....Dickenson, Thomas Ray July 11, 2004
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com March 28, 2006, 3:51 pm

The Dalles Chronicle,  July 15, 2004
     Thomas Ray Dickenson, (Lt. Col. USAF retired), 86, a resident of The 
Dalles, passed away at his home on Sunday, July 11, 2004. 
     He was born Jan. 15, 1918, the ninth child of A. M. and Cora Mae 
(McClure) Dickenson in Grand Dalles, Wash., now Dallesport.
     He attended The Dalles school system, graduating with the class of 1937. 
He married Mary Ann Olson in 1938, in Goldendale, and she preceded him in 
death in 1995 after 57 years of marriage. 
     He entered the U.S. Army Air Corp as a cadet in May 1942, graduated as a 
2nd Lt. Pilot on Oct. 1, 1943 and was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 452 Bomb 
Group, arriving in England December 1943. He flew 25 missions in B-17’s over 
Germany. His last mission was on D-Day, June 7, 1944, dropping bombs 1,000 
yards past the beach.
     During World War II he served in both the European and Pacific theaters, 
and at Hanfield, Calif. (now Travis AFB). After the war, he flew during the 
Berlin Airlift; was a flight instructor at Randolph Field in Texas during the 
Korean War; and also served at Maine Air Force Base in Frankfort, Germany; at 
Evereux Air Force Base in France; and at Charleston Air Force Base in South 
Carolina. 
     In 1965, he retired as a Lt. Colonel, a Command Pilot with 13,000 flying 
hours and The Military Air Transport Diamond Lapel Pin, flying 10,000 accident-
free hours. 
     After retirement, he and his wife moved back to The Dalles, and worked 
for the Oregon State Employment Service as a farm labor representative.
     He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Dalles Elk Lodge #303 
and Senior Center. He enjoyed his family, the outdoors, and spending time at 
his cabin at Government Mineral Springs near Carson, Wash.
     Survivors include his son, Douglas, Bellingham, Wash.; daughter, Debra 
Niedert and husband Ron, Washougal, Wash.; granddaughter, Roxie (Niedert) and 
husband, Brian Pearson and twin great-grandsons, Joel and Jared Pearson, 
Bothell, Wash.; nephews include, George Little and wife, Frances, The Dalles; 
Delmer Stoutenberg, Dayton; David Stoutenberg, Portland; Steve and Ross 
McBride, Palm City, Calif.; nieces include, Bonnie (Dickenson) Ross and 
husband Bernard; Mary Jean (Dickenson) Rhinehart, Sherwood; Joan (Dickenson) 
Powell and husband Al, White Salmon; Judy (Dickenson) Spear and husband Steve, 
Bellingham, Wash.; and Jill (Dickenson) Irish, Atwater, Calif.; and special 
neighbors, Lee McAfee and Jodi Heath. Preceding him in death were four 
brothers: Alex, Neil, Richard and Dude; four sisters: Bessie Stoutenberg; 
Juanita Walker; Tuie Little, and Mae McBride and niece Dorothy (Dottie) 
(Stoutenberg) McCormick.
     Viewing visitation will be held at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home 
on Friday, July 16, from 2 to 7 p.m.
     Graveside services with Air Force Military Rites will be held on 
Saturday, July 17, at the Odd Fellows Cemetery at 10 a.m. with Rev. Trace 
Browning officiating. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of 
arrangements.
     Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice or the Kidney 
Association of Oregon Inc., 3689 SW Carmen Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97034.

Additional Comments:
Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, 
Oregon, Dan Spatz, Editor (e-mail dated 3/7/2006).


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