Charles Rodney “Rod” Dickison, 77, of Baker City, died Sept. 10, 2005, at his home.
There will be a Celebration of Life service at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Agape Christian Center, 650 Highway 7. Pastor Aaron Oglesbee of the church officiate. There was a private family graveside service at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Rod was born at McEwen on March 24, 1928, to Marcus and Olive Dickison. He was the fifth of seven children, and the third of five generations in Baker County.
He was raised in Sumpter Valley until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from 1945 to 1949. He was called back into service during the Korean War until 1951.
In between his military service, Rod worked on the Sumpter Dredge and then went to Barber College at Portland. He returned to Baker City and went into partnership with Kenneth Kofford. They operated the Kofford/Dickison Barbershop.
Rod continued his barber business for 55 years and volunteered his barbering services at no charge to the Baker County Jail and for the homebound elderly and ill.
On Feb. 8, 1953, he married Deloros E. Shoemaker. They had three children: James H. Dickison, Ronald C. Dickison, and Eutonna M. Dickison Lee. His grandchildren include Amos J. Lee, Shelby J. Lee, Eli R. Dickison, Michelle R. Dickison, Kyle M. Dickison, Cambry Bracken/Dickison and Alyssa Bracken/Dickison. Great-grandchildren are Aspyn R. Lee, Indigo K. Lee and Isaac I. Lee.
Rod was one of the community leaders to bring the Full Gospel Businessmen’s International into Baker County. He was a member of the Methodist Church for 26 years, and then became one of the founding elders and leaders of the Agape Christian Center, which he has been a member of for the past 25 years.
Rod was a volunteer fireman for 25 years and a Boy Scout leader for 10 years. He was involved in many other community service activities that reflected his love of God and the people of this community.
Rod loved hunting, camping, fishing, family gatherings, his studies and teaching of the Bible, and bettering the lives of others through his community volunteer activities. He was known for his dedication to his faith; by his family he was know for his love and his service to God.
Rod was preceded in death by his sister, Carrie Hudspeth, and her husband, Ernest; and his brothers, Norman James Dickison and Wilson M. Dickison.
Survivors include his brothers, Andrew J. Dickison and his wife, Jo, Dean Dickison, Wesley Dickison and his wife, Kathy, and Paul Dickison and his wife, Nancy; his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; other family members, Brenda Dickison, Dell Dickison, Duane Lee, Tailee Lee, Kim Lee, Donna Case, Don Dickison, Tom Dickison, Barbra Saunders; nephews and nieces too numerous to list; and longtime family friends, including Phyllis Badgley, Bob and Catherine Ott, Lew Robbins, Bob and Gail Stanton and Arron and Betty Ogelsbee.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Agape Christian Center, Pathway Hospice or St. Jude Children’s Hospital through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, September 16, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor