Fred Vernon Dillon, 94, of Columbus died at Columbus Medicalodge, Tuesday, November 18, 2008.

He was born June 26, 1914 in Portis, the son of Fred Dillon and Weltha Sealock Dillon. He attended a rural grade school and graduated from high school in 1928. He attended Bresee College Academy in Hutchinson, and graduated from Pasadena College with a Bachelors of Science Degree and received his Master's of Theology Degree from Pasadena College School of Religion and University of Southern California.

Vernon married Erlene M. Moorhead in Pasadena, Calif. on June 2, 1945.

Vernon moved to Southeast Kansas where he pastored a small church and taught a rural school. He pastored United Methodist churches at Altoona, Edna, Yates Center, Seneca, Iola, Garnett, Moran and Columbus for 33 years retiring June, 1979.

He was active in community activities, PTA, Boy Scouts of America, three terms in the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature, and was a volunteer with the Social Rehabilitation Services, Kansas Library and for the vision impaired for many years.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Orvil and Raymond Dillon, sisters, Esther Cumpston and Edna Alloway.

In addition to his surviving wife, he is survived by three children Barbara Ridenonr, Wichita; Trish Moore, Broken Arrow, Okla.; and Gregory Dillon, Wichita. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, one brother, Wilbur Dillon of Hastings, Neb.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, November 22, at the First Methodist Church, Columbus Kansas with the reverends Susan Daniel-Brey and Jim Shipley officiating. Burial will be in Park Cemetery, Columbus. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Freeman Health Systems Children's Miracle Network or Prison Fellowship Ministries and Simpson Funeral Home will be the custodian for the memorial donations. Simpson Funeral Home, 323 S. Kansas in in charge of the funeral arrangements.