Dillon Smith was born on a ranch near Childress, Texas on September 20, 1920, the son of Homer Smith and Hattie Smith. Early childhood was spent on farms in west Texas. They moved to Oklahoma in his teens and he graduated from Alex Oklahoma High School in 1938. While serving with the Civil Conservation Corps in Rush Springs, Oklahoma he would carpool home with his roommate "Shorty" Morris. He went to a Sunday Night meeting of Baptist Young People's Union where he met Shorty's sister, Helen. Dillon and Helen were married at Chickasha, Oklahoma on January 10, 1942. A son, Morris, was born on December 10, 1942 and a daughter, Linda, in 1946. He worked for BS & B Steel Company in Oklahoma City during World War II. After the war he wanted to pursue his interest in aviation. He began by parking airplanes in the hangars of a small airfield. He later obtained his private pilot license and his Airframe and Engine Mechanic license. After working as an aircraft mechanic he went to work for Spartan Aircraft in Lawton, Oklahoma as an aircraft inspector. When Spartan moved its operations to Alabama he decided to fulfill a long time dream of working in Alaska. On his way to Alaska he stopped in Seattle and was offered a job at Boeing. He worked in quality assurance for 27 years and retired from Boeing in 1982. They moved to Kennewick in 1990. After the death of Helen in 2003 he moved in with his son's family in South Richland. He served as a Deacon in various Baptist churches. He greatly enjoyed serving as a Sunday School teacher at the Wynwood Assisted Living with the Senior Adults of Richland Baptist Church where he faithfully attended. He was preceded in death by his father, Homer, in 1967 and his mother, Hattie, in 1992. He greatly grieved the death of his beloved wife, Helen, in 2003. Dillon is survived by his children Morris Smith and wife Sandy of Richland and Linda Bower and husband Vern of Columbia Falls, Montana; grandchildren Becky Smith and husband Terry, Christy Bower, Jeff Smith and wife Jennifer, Jay Bower; Kelly MacQueen and husband Todd; great grandchildren Brittnee & Kevin Smith, Caleb & Nathan MacQueen and Andie Smith. Viewing will be Friday, February 6th, 2009, from 3:00pm until 8:00pm at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home located at 1401 South Union Street in Kennewick. A public memorial service will be Saturday, February 7th, 11:00am, at Richland Baptist Church located at 1632 George Washington Way in Richland.