Lt. Ray E. Dickson Is Killed In Action
Mrs. Ray E. Dickson, Jr. of Spur received word Thursday morning, Nov. 23, from the War Department that her husband, Lt. Ray E. Dickson, Jr. was killed in action on Nov. 6, 1944. He was with the Field Artillery attached to the 80th Infantry Division of General patton´s Third Army in France. Lt. Dickson is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Dickson of Spur.
Ray was born Sept. 9, 1916, at the Texas Agriculturl Experiment Station. He was a member of the First Christian Church, and received his education in the Spur public schools. He was president of both the Junior and Senior classes while in high school and finished in 1933. After his graduation he entered A & M College and was there during the years of 1934 through 1937. Lt. Dickson also attended Texas Technological college for a summer term and the University of Texas during 1940-41. While a student of the University of Texas he married Miss Gertrude Hill of Eagle Pass, Texas, a graduate of the university.
Lt. Dickson entered the army in November, 1941 and received his training in Fort Bliss, Fort Riley and Camp Roberts and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery at Fort Sill, OK, in March 1943, and was later stationed at Camp Gruber and Camp McCoy. He left the states in August 1944 and his wife was with him the entire time he was in the service prior to his departure.
A daughter, Marcia, was born to Lt. and Mrs. Dickson in May 1943 at Muskogee, OK, and is now 18 months of age.
Ray´s hobbies were literature and art and some of his best paintings were done while he was still in high school. He has had several articles published in magazines, the most recent appearing in the December issue of "The Progresive Farmer."
Besides his wife, parents and daughter, Lt. Dickson is survived by his sister, Mrs. Wm. M. Hilley, also of Spur.
©The Texas Spur, November 23, 1944
from the records of Lillian Grace Nay
Body of Lieut. Dickson Has Arrived In United States
Mr. And Mrs. R.E. Dickson of Spur, have received official notification that the remains of their son, Lt. Ray Dickson, Jr. has arrived in the United States. They will receive a second notice when the body arrives in Fort Worth, preparatory to being sent to Spur.©The Texas Spur, July 15, 1948
*************************************************************************************Reburial Rites Held for Lt. Ray Dickson
Reburial services for Lt. Ray E. Dickson were conducted yesterday, September 1, in the First Christian Church at 5 p.m. with Rev. Faries McDaniel officiating. L.D. Ratliff gave a summary of Lt. Dickson's life.Lt. Dickson, a native of Spur, was born September 9, 1916, and spend his boyhood in Dickens County. He graduated from Spur High School in1933, and soon afterward entered Texas A&M where he spent four years. In 1937 he became curator for the Museum and Resource Institute of West Texas Chamber of Commerce in Abilene. He attended the University of Texas before entering the Army at Eagle Pass in 1941.
Lt. Dickson received his officer's training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1942-43. He was killed in action near Metz, France, November 8, 1944, while serving with the 314th Field Artillery attached to the 80th Infantry Division.
He was a member of the First Christian Church in Spur, and from early childhood attended church regularly.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Dickson and two daughters, Marcia and Raye, of Liberty, Texas; his parents, Mr. And Mrs. R.E. Dickson and one sister, Mrs. W.M. Hilley, all of Spur.
Pallbearers were N.A. Cox, Larry Boothe, Winston Brummett, Alfred Payne, Bill Koon, Marshall Formby, Paul Marion and Bob Conner.
Honorary pallbearers were M.L. Jones, R.E. Karper, A.B. Cooner, E.L. Adams, John Hazlewood, George S. Link, Sr., Ned Hogan, L.R. Barrett, D. Rogers, W.M. Hazel and Lloyd Hindman.
Campbell's Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements with final interment in Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, September 2, 1948
Transcribed June 29, 2005 by DCHC members.
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