Walter Byerl “Pop” Dillard passed peacefully from this life on January 01, 2019 at the age of 92.
He was born on October 24, 1926 in Breckenridge, TX to John Walter Dillard and Mary Elizabeth Lambert Dillard.
Pop enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17, with special permission from his mother. He served his country until he was Honorably Discharged in July 1946.
He married Ramona Margaret Holton, on April 11, 1947. Mona was the love of his life. She was his rock and he her leaning post. They had 3 children during their 30 years of marriage, Monte Roy, Michael Wayne and Suzanne. Mona passed away on June 05, 1977.
Pop began his career with GTE in 1949, working as a lineman for 70 cents per hour. He moved to Sonora in 1955 as a combination man and worked there until his retirement from GTE after 42 years of service.
While in Sonora, Pop became a Mason and was a member of the Dee Ora Lodge. He was also a long-time member of numerous dance clubs in Sonora, where he dearly loved to dance the night away, with partners young and old!
In March 1978, Pop married, Betty Faye Renfro. They were married for 19 years, until her death on January 03, 1998.
After Pop’s retirement, he helped his Son build a home on the Devil’s River. He spent some of the happiest days of his life there and made many memories with his children and grandchildren.
He loved sitting on the deck, feeding his beloved hummingbirds and making videos of all the wildlife, his family and nature itself. He continued driving himself to the River, on his own, until the ripe old age of 87, when he decided he should no longer drive out of town.
Pop has been a resident of the Schleicher County Nursing Home from October 2015 until the time of his death.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to all the nurses and staff of the Nursing Home, who gave him such wonderful personal care, as well as the Care providers of Kindred Hospice.
Pop was a very loving and giving man, always eager to lend a helping hand to young and old. His time on this earth was cherished by his family and friends and he will be deeply missed by all. He was not just a grandfather, he was ‘Pop’; not just to his family, but for the entire community.
He is survived by his sons, Monte Dillard & wife Sam of Sonora, Mike Dillard & wife Janey of Sonora and daughter, Suzanne and husband Randy Todd of Bonham, TX. Grandsons Dustin (Jeremy) Dillard, Chance (Dani) Dillard, Patton (Lauren) Copeland, Scott Todd, Brandon (Emily) Todd and Great-Grandchildren Daylin, Castyn and Wayden Dillard, Riley Copeland and Randel Todd.
Pop is also survived by his extended family Ed Lee Renfro, Kingsland, TX, Tony (Billie) Renfro, Sonora and Suzanne Badeaux, San Angelo, TX. Grandchildren Kayse Renfro, Cody (Shianne) Dupree, Anthony (Lauren) Renfro, Bill (Tara) Renfro, and Zach (Kara) Badeaux. Great-Grandchildren Asher, Bree’s, Bray and Haevyn Dupree, Hannah and Hadley Renfro, Turtle and Rankin Renfro, Brystol Badeaux and many nieces, nephews, a sister-in-law, brother-in-law, their families and friends far and wide.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister.
Family visitation will be Friday, January 04, 2019 from 6:00 -7:00 p.m. at Love’s Funeral Home; there will also be a family visitation following the Funeral on Saturday, at Sam & Monte’s Home, at 831 PR 2205, Sonora (Cahill Addition).
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Sonora.
Memorials may be made to the Camp Paisano Baptist Encampment through the First Baptist Church of Sonora or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are provided by Love Funeral Home. On-line condolences can be made at lovefuneralhome.net.
A very dear friend emailed her condolences and managed to capture the very essence of Pop with this simple phrase “He was such a Good and Kind man”.
