Graham Dickerson

Funeral services for Graham Dickerson, 98 of Thorndale are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, June 30, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale. 

Burial will follow in the Salty Cemetery in the Salty Community.

Rev. Ray Prince of Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church will officiate. 

Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.

Graham Dickerson was born Feb. 1, 1918 in the Conoley Community in Milam County to Gus Lewis and Bessie Elizabeth (Smith) Dickerson. 

He attended Conoley school through eighth grade and was a 1935 graduate of Thorndale High School. He attended two years at Southwestern University in Georgetown.

In May of 1943 he served in the 1923rd Ordinance Ammunition Company Aviation or the Army Air Corp during World War II. He was stationed in England, France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. He was discharged as a Sergeant in December of 1945. 

On April 7, 1939, he and Elkanah Brunson were married in Cameron. 

Graham lived most of his life in Thorndale, but had also lived in Cameron, Port Arthur, Bellville, Brenham and Rockdale. 

After being discharged from the Army, he worked at Perry Hardware in Rockdale and the State Department of Public Welfare. While working for the state, he lived in Brenham and Bellville. While there he attended Blinn College. In 1954 he begin working for the Industrial Generating Company in Rockdale. During his 26 year employment he worked most of the job positions in his department, retiring in 1980 as a Shift Supervisor.

Graham, with his beautiful bass voice and love of quartet music, sang in a quartet known as The Free Lance Gospel Quartet of Austin. They sang together for about a year. In 1932, he became a member of Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church. He was a member of Thorndale Masonic Lodge No. 978 and had served as District Deputy Grand Master of 104th Masonic District in 1993 and 1985. He was also a member of National Rifle Association. 

He loved his family, friends and telling stories, he also enjoyed organic gardening, woodworking, making furniture, rocking horses, valet stands, cedar chests, gun cabinets and a doll cradle. Also, raising cattle, dove and quail hunting and fishing. 

Graham built the home he lived in, south of Thorndale and Gordon’s and Harvene’s home, along with several others. After all that construction was finally over, he would play 42 as much as possible.

Graham passed away Sunday, June 26, 2016 at his home in Thorndale. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elkanah Dickerson on September 11, 1979 and daughter, Mada Beth Luker on April 18, 2010.

Surviving are his son, Gordon Lewis Dickerson and wife Harvene Sorenson Dickerson of Thorndale; son-in-law, Wayne Luker and wife Melba of Thorndale; sister, Olive D. Olive of Shiloh; four grandchildren, Jana Heine and husband Ricky, Wesley Luker, Traci Dickerson Grimm and husband Johnny, Bradley Wayne Dickerson and wife Jenny; eight great-grandchildren, Jared Heine and wife Leslie, Ryan Heine and wife Rachel, Jordan Schneider and husband Cody, Chloe and Nathan Grimm, Devin, Abby, Bryce and the expected Graham Dickerson in October 2016; two great-great-grandchildren, Alayna and Harper Heine and special family friends, Tim Kasner and wife Ginger of San Antonio.

Pallbearers are Wesley Luker, Bradley Dickerson, Ricky Heine, Johnny Grimm, Jared Heine, Ryan Heine.

Honorary pallbearers are Barton Felton, Tim Kasner, Jim Richter, Keith Fisher, Lloyd Anders, Bobby Yount, Newton Butts and Bruce Kennedy.

Memorials may be made to Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 207, Thorndale, Texas 76577 or to a charity or church of choice.