Gary M. Dix

Gary M. Dix, 92, of Bloomington passed away on Monday, April 30th at the Brown County Health and Living Center in Nashville. He was born on August 22, 1919 the sixth of seven children to Velda (Boyd) and William Bert Dix in Robinson, Illinois. He was a retired self-employed provider of contract petroleum maintenance, installing and repairing all equipment in service stations and bulk plants for several major oil companies. Gary volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1941 and was honorably discharged in 1945. He served with the 28th Infantry Div. of the 109th Infantry Regiment. The 28th Div. was called the "Bloody Bucket" by the Germans due to the Divisions red keystone insignia. He served in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and the Ardennes Campaigns and was wounded in action in the Hertgen forest of Germany, for which he was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry and the Purple Heart. He had previously been awarded the Bronze Star with Clusterand V Device for Heroism in combat in France. He was a lifetime member of the Lauren B. Strain Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Burton Woolery Post #18 of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and Bloomington Amvets Post #2000. He was a former member of United Brothers Church in Robinson, IL and was a member of McDoel Baptist Church of Bloomington. He was also a member and Past Master of Monroe Lodge #22, F.&A.M., 1984, and was Master Ritualist in 2010, Bloomington York Rite Bodies, Murat Shrine of Indianapolis, Stone Belt Shrine Club and a life member of the Legion of Honor. He began his Masonic journey in Robinson, IL with Robinson Lodge A.F. & A.M. in 1946. Gary started a scouting career in Robinson, IL under Scoutmaster Kenneth Gould in Troop 28 where he attained 1st class scout. He later, in Bloomington, was assistant scoutmaster under Thornton Stone of Troop and later Head of Explored Post One advisor. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow and the Brotherhood of the Order of the Arrow. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law; Gary D. "Doug" Dix and wife Deborah Robinson of Ellettsville, Terry Lee and Barbara Jean (Goodman) Dix of Bloomington, one sister, Lenora Hoffman of Arlington Heights, IL., grandson Brian D. Dix (wife Marie-Daniele) and their daughter Caitlin of Montreal, Canada, Doug's step-granddaughters Traci Bowman (husband Cody), Toni Robinson and Taylor Robinson, of Ellettsville, and Terry's children; Pamela Kirk (husband Stuart) of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Cheryl Fike, Charles (Chelsey) and great granddaughter Ainsley Dix, and Robert Fike, all of Indiana. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Evelyn (Young) Dix, one son, William "Billy" Dix, one sister, Roberta Jean TeVault and four brothers, Charles, James, Boyd and Robert Dix and one grandson, Eddie. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday at Allen Funeral Home, 4155 S. Old St. Rd. 37, Bloomington. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery where the Monroe County Veterans Honor Guard will conduct Military Graveside rites. Friends may call on Thursday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Masonic Memorial services will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org

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Gary M. Dix

August 22, 1919 - April 30, 2012