It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Charles Dillard at the Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. John was 68 years old.
John was a loving, gentle, caring, wonderful man that left a permanent mark etched on our hearts. He will be greatly missed by his wife and best friend of 47 years, Beth, grandchildren, Katlyn and Jonathan and children, Jason and Audrey. Family was everything to John and he was proud to be the patriarch father, grandfather and great-grandfather to our family. He has been a major presence in the lives of his children and grandchildren.
John was born on May 16, 1951 in Conway, Arkansas to Robert Lee Dillard and Sarah Nadine Ingram Dillard. He spent most of his childhood growing up in Huntsville, Arkansas. John was a graduate of Huntsville High School in 1969 and he worked 13 years for Tyson Laboratories, 5 years self-employed at Ozark Analytical and 30 years as a chemistry supervisor at A&A Laboratories in Springdale, Arkansas. John was a dedicated, hardworking man who rarely missed a day of work and won a first place award from American Oil Chemist Society in laboratory proficiency for work in analytical chemistry.
John came to know the Lord as his Savior at the age of 21 and he loved the Lord. He was a gifted musician, guitarist, songwriter and he was involved in prison ministry for many years. John loved to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life through salvation.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lee Dillard and Sarah Nadine Ingram Dillard; his brother, Rick Dillard; and his close uncle, Dr. John Bentley Ingram.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth of the home; son, Jason and wife, Jackie of Springdale; daughter, Audrey Swain and husband, Luke of Fayetteville, Arkansas; grandchildren, Jonathan and Katlyn Hime of the home, Holley Johnson and husband, Brock of Bergman, Arkansas, Danielle Dillard of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Kendall Nelson of Springdale, Arkansas; great-grandson, Alexander Scott of the home; brother, Robert Lee Dillard, Jr of Kingston, Arkansas; sister, Gay Jones and husband, Marvin of Huntsville, Arkansas; brother, Jack Dillard and wife, Jan of Farmington, Missouri; and sisters, Kathy Hatfield and Donna Keeney of Huntsville, Arkansas.
John will be greatly missed by his family, nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and many friends.
The family would like to thank the Willard Walker Hospice Home for their great care in the last couple of months of his life and are sincerely grateful for the wonderful staff who comforted and cared for John in his last days.
John will be remembered for his caring heart and unconditional love. Although our hearts are heavy, we celebrate his life, his love of Jesus, his passion for music and we find comfort that he is in heaven with his Savior.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Living Hope Assembly Church in Elkins, Arkansas with David Mashburn and Tim O’Brien officiating.
Beth,
Please be assured of our prayers for you during this time. We are so sorry to hear this. John was a longtime friend and coworker.
Thank you Gordon;
I appreciate the prayers.
Alzheimer’s stole everything from John; little by little. At the end there was only a glimmer of this precious man left. I’ve been grieving his loss for months.
What true and thoughtful words in this tribute to John’s life. He always treated me with kindness, fairness, and encouragement under his leadership at Whitbeck Labs. I am so sorry for your loss and yet knowing John is partaking of the better future for believers, heaven in the presence of Jesus, we rejoice! Matt and my prayers are for your families comfort.
Thank you Jean
John alway commented that you were a very hard worker & he enjoyed working with you
I’m so sorry for your loss.. my heart goes out to all the family
Thankyou Jeannie, me and Luke love you
He was always a good man to me and my children when we’d see him in town! I loved that about your dad Audrey! I love you and your children and wish you all the best! Remember that’s all that he ever wanted for you was the best!
Beth and family. John was one of the best. He will be remembered as a loving, caring person to all that had the honor of knowing him. May God bless all of you . Kim Hatfield-Gabbard.
With heavy hearts we send our sincerest condolences, prayers & love to the family of John Dillard. John was one of Woodrow Harmon’s best friends in Alabam. As children they enjoyed playing football, fishing & running all over the country together. This world needs more people like John!!!
John was a great blessing in my life! He always kept me laughing. I bet he and Loy are having a great time in Heaven! Loy and I both thought a lot of John.
Hugs from me to you!!