Cyrus I. Dillon

Cyrus Irvin “Cy” Dillon, Jr., born on October 23, 1925, died on December 17, 2015, in his beloved Franklin County, Virginia. Dillon was a lifelong resident of the county and was known as an educator, a family man and a friend. He was the son of the late Cyrus I. Dillon, Sr. and Edith Moses Dillon of Boones Mill, VA. He is predeceased by his dear wife Muriel Leedy Dillon and his brother, Harold Lewis Dillon. He is survived by his children, Cyrus I Dillon, III (Karen) of Callaway, VA, Elizabeth D. Meador (Billy) of Vinton, VA, Charlotte D. Hubbard (Keith) and Bonny Dillon of Boones Mill, his sister Emma Wallace (Mac), Wilmington, NC, grandchildren Andrea Smith, Richie Meador, Jim Dillon, Ann Weaver, Cliff, Maggie and Charlie Hubbard, and seven great grandchildren. Dillon graduated from Boones Mill High School in 1942, received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond in 1949, where he was a proud member of the Spider baseball team. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and earned a Master’s Degree from Virginia Tech in 1962. A talented athlete, Cy Dillon was the first football, basketball and baseball coach at Franklin County High School (FCHS). He was a member of the Boones Mill Lions Club, Rocky Mount Rotary Club, and the Southwest Virginia Basketball Officials Association. Over the years, Dillon was a member at Fairmont Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Roanoke, VA. Dillon was employed by Franklin County Public Schools for 31 years. He served as principal of Rocky Mount Elementary School, coach and athletic director of Franklin County High School, General Supervisor and for 16 of those years as Superintendent of Franklin County Public Schools. He provided oversight for several facility additions, including the school bus garage, the school board office, two elementary school buildings, six elementary gymnasiums, FCHS vocational and art facilities, central gymnasium and football stadium. During this time as educator he gave special attention to curriculum development. Other major projects during his leadership were school desegregation, development of special education and personnel management. He was devoted to the students, to “his” teachers and to the betterment of Franklin County. Special thanks go out for the loving care offered up by family, friends and neighbors, especially devoted caregivers in the home and staff at Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, Carilion Home Health, Trinity Mission and Carilion Franklin Hospice. Funeral services will be conducted from Fairmont Baptist Church 3 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2015 with the Rev. Leonard Castleman officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Memorial Park. His family will receive friends on Monday, December 21st from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fairmont Baptist Church, 1669 Bethlehem Road, Boones Mill, VA 24065. Arrangements by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home 62 Virginia Market Place Drive (Route 220 at Wirtz Road) Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151. www.connerbowman.com