William Paul Dixon was welcomed home May 20, 2021 at the age of 74. He was born October 6, 1946 to William Pate Dixon and Gladys Leota (Yeager) Dixon/Dillard in Fayetteville. He was raised on the Dillard farm in Fayetteville by his loving parents, Leota and John Dillard.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Betty Glass and Wilma Dean Stewart. He is survived by his devoted wife of 31 years, Earline Fay Dixon, daughter Kristy Binns and husband Reagan, stepsons Jon Poulsom and Jim Poulsom, siblings Kay Naylor and husband Richard, and James Dillard and wife Sherry. “Pop Pops” is also survived by 9 grandchildren, the greatest joys of his life – Malorie Reed, Karina “little bit” Hunt, Adrien Poulsom, Thomas “Tommo” Poulsom, Carly Poulsom, Byron Binns, William Carter Binns, Peyton Binns, and Samuel Poulsom and one great-granddaughter, Carter Mappin, and his Pakistani “daughter”, Sonia Sadaf.
Paul was a loving father, grandfather, and husband. He was a humble, genuine friend and went above and beyond to help those he loved. He was kind to everyone he met and always reminded those around him to speak positively, because you never know what another person might be going through. A tinkerer at heart, Paul served in the Air Force as an electrical engineer working on communication towers during the Vietnam War in the Philippines and Germany. He was an experienced ham radio operator-first licensed in 1961 and rising to the rank of Extra Class Operator in 2020, the highest license in ham radio operation. He was also licensed in Germany in 1970. In 1995, he received call sign KK5II and January 7, 2020 he was assigned call sign K5YH. He was a member of many ham radio clubs, including ADXA, ARRL, ARKAN, BVRC, OWS. He was a proud recipient of The DCXX Challenge Award, the premiere award given to hams, in both digital and mixed signals. He had made contact with 107 countries digitally and 136 through mixed signals. He participated in state-wide emergency response drills, at the direction of Governor Hutchinson.
Honorary pallbearers are James Dillard, Charles Glass, Thomas Poulsom, Byron Binns, Carter Binns, Reagan Binns, Michael Molesso, Don Banta, and Scott Anderson.
A drop-in visitation will be held at Beard’s Funeral Chapel Wednesday, May 26, 2021 from 4 – 8PM. Graveside burial and service under the direction of Beard’s will be held at Bluff Cemetery Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 1:00PM with Rev. Suzanne Stoner and Rev. Richard Naylor officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ARKAN Ham Radio Club – arkanhams.org
I was so saddened to hear this news. I know it’s a huge loss to many family members and you are in my thoughts and prayers for healing in the future.
Sending hugs,
Mendi
So sorry to learn Paul had passed on. I can think of all the times he was with the family.
He was always so good to us and came to visit when he could. I will always be so appreciative of how he came to boost Joe up and kept me company during
Joe’s long heart surgery. It was such a great help to me. Am getting where do not want open my mail. Just got e mail saying my niece’s husband passed on with heart attack yesterday. He just making plans to retire. Was such a good fellow,too. Love to your family. Not able come to service but sending donation to Radio Club from Vicki & me and our families. Aunt glenna Yeager.
Earline, we met at one of the ham holiday breakfasts years ago.
I’m holding you and your family in my heart. The world has indeed lost a wonderful human being, the quintessential nice guy.
I’ve never known a better man than Paul. He was a friend and fellow ham radio operator for many years.
Paul was a true gentleman with a big smile. I met him through amateur radio and always enjoyed him. My condolence to his family and friends.
Paul was one of NWA’s most-liked, most active radio amateurs, seemingly involved in everything, and all our area radio organizations. An all-around good friend, and good guy. In ham terminology, “QRT” (off the air) much too early and greatly missed, already. RIP and “73,” pal.