Lewis Ellis Dillinger

Funeral Services for Lewis Ellis Dillinger, 73, of Sperry, were held Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Cornerstone Free Will Baptist Church in Sperry, OK. Dr. Curtis Linton and Reverend Sam Smith officiated and burial was in the Heckathorn Cemetery in Seneca, PA. Casket Bearers were Jessie Graves, Isaac Graves, Nathan Jones, Jacob Jones, James Patrick, and Jon Medeiros. Honorary Casket Bearers were James Burk and Earl Worley. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Lewis was born April 1, 1936 in Titusville, PA to Lewis Victor and Alvrittia (Shrout) Dillinger. He passed away May 16, 2009 in Tulsa, OK.

Lewis started to work with his dad as a house painter at the age of 12. After his father's death, he ran the house painting, wall papering and drywall business successfully for many years. Eventually, he went to work as a painter for Polk Sate Institute until his retirement. At the age of 14, he became a Christian and was baptized at Highway Gospel Tabernacle. Upon his conversion, he won his twin sister, Lois, and his parents to the Lord. He was also an Army Medic from July 7, 1958 to July 6, 1961. While in the Army, he met Rose Marie McFadden and they were married on June 18, 1960. They were married for 43 years. After the death of his first wife in 2003, he moved to Oklahoma and married Sidney Sue Kennett Smith on January 7, 2005, in Sperry, where he spent the remainder of his life. At the time of his death, he was an active member of the Cornerstone Free Will Baptist Church in Sperry, and served as often as he could. He loved his family, his country and God. He was also a member of O.A.S.I.S (Older Adults Still In Service) and N.A.R.F.E (National Association of Retired Federal Employees). He wrote two books, The Key to Understanding the Revelation, and A Devotional Book of Poetry. He always held Bible studies in his home for his family and faithfully took them to church.

He is survived by his wife, Sidney Dillinger; daughters, Lisa Marie Perkins and husband Mike, Ruth Edith Motter and husband Merle, Diann Opal Harvey and husband Paul, and Martha Elizabeth Phillips; step-children, Samuel Oliver Smith, Lois Ann Kleber, and Yvonne Francis Patrick; 24 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren, whom he loved very much, as well as a host of many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rose McFadden; sisters, Adeline, Leona and his twin Lois Edith Cooper.