John N. Dickerson

John N. Dickerson, 93 of Robinson, IL, formerly of Clark County, IL, died at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the Crawford Memorial Hospital, Robinson. He was born November 6, 1917 in Darwin Township, Clark County, IL, the son of Roy Dickerson and Ruth Baker Dickerson. John served in the U. S. Navy and was a prisoner of war in France during WWII. He received his Masters in Music from IU where he was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and a member of the Symphonia, an elite group of musicians where he played the cello. He was director of America€™s larger accordion band and was a music teacher in Clark County for several years and at the Terre Haute Conservatory. John received his Masters degree in Psychology and was a School Psychologist retiring in the South Bend, IN schools. He was a missionary in Puerto Rico for 2 years. He was a life member of the Marshall V. F. W. Post # 5975, West Union American Legion Post #1130, Valley of Danville Scottish Rite, York Lodge #313, Clark County Historical Society, Order of Eastern Star Chapter #739 since 1941, Shriners International Ainad Chapter. He was a member of the Ruritan and in 1980 served on the National Board of Directors and also served as Zone Governor, Lieutenant Governor assigned to clubs in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa as a Board Director. He was a member and served on the board of the Methodist Church, South Bend, IN and attended the Brick Church. He was a member of the Kiwanis in South Bend, IN and served as President from 1976 to 1977. He also was a pilot and a Weather Forecaster.John married Mary Jane Findley on March 1, 1941 and she preceded him in death on February 2, 2000. He was also preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Eloise Dickerson Sparks.He is survived by his two daughters and son-in-law, Lynn Morrow and Mark Atkinson, Tyler, TX, Barbara Cummings, Lake Forest, CA; 4 grandchildren, Ryan Cummings, Allison Cummings, Jeremy Atkinson, Joshua Atkinson; his brother-in-law, H. T. Sparks, Evansville, IN; 2 nieces; and special friends, Hubert and Maryln Collier.Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Home, West Union, IL. Burial will be in the Walnut Prairie Cemeter. Military graveside services will be conducted by the combined units of the Marshall American Legion Post 90, Marschall V. F. W. Post #5975, and the West Union American Legion Post #1130. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday preceding the services at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Ruritan National Foundation College Fund for Scholarships.