William “Bill” Dickson

William Dickson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2026, at the age of 85.Born on June 26, 1941, William was the second-oldest of six children born to William and Mildred Dickson. He was preceded in death by all of his brothers and his sister as well as the true love of his life, Lillian, who passed away on July 6, 2010.

William is survived by his son, William Dickson, and his wife, Melissa; his daughter, Lisa Dickson; and his grandson, Fred Dickson.William lived a life defined by hard work, service, family, friendship, and an unmistakable sense of humor. He proudly served for four years in the United States Army, attaining the rank of Specialist Four (SP4) and seeing action during the Panama conflicts. He was awarded a medal in recognition of his service to his country.

After his military service, William spent many years at Quaker Rubber, where he worked as a laborer and handrail manufacturer. He truly enjoyed his work and, even more, the people he worked alongside. He often shared stories about his days operating the presses and the camaraderie he had with his coworkers.

William’s third career brought him to the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked as a housekeeper for nearly 20 years. He took great pride in his work and formed friendships with many of the people around him. It was also at Penn that he shared something especially meaningful with his son, William, who worked there as well. The two enjoyed having lunch together every day until his father William retired—a time his son will always treasure.

But William’s life was about much more than his careers.He enjoyed having a good time, telling jokes, and making people laugh. Later in life, he developed a love of dancing. He had a wicked sense of humor at times, but it was always delivered with good fun and a twinkle in his eye.William enjoyed going camping with family, including years spent at Quaker Woods, where many memories and legacies were created. He treasured the time he spent with the Boy Scouts. Those experiences gave him the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with others, and create memories that remained special to him throughout his life.He was also the person everyone called when something needed fixing. 

William was incredibly handy and seemed to be able to fix just about anything. If he couldn’t fix it himself, he could almost always tell you what to look for and what you needed to do to solve the problem. He had a gift for figuring things out and was always willing to share that knowledge with others.

Above all, William will be remembered for the people he loved, the friendships he made, the laughter he shared, and the countless stories he left behind.

A service celebrating William’s life will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Washington’s Crossing. Family and friends are asked to arrive at 1:15 p.m., with the service beginning promptly at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Salvation Army in William’s memory.William was a man who loved family, friends, laughing, the outdoors, and helping others. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.