Bob was born December 7, 1925, in Shelbina, Missouri, the son of George Delbert and Alberta Margaret Ayers Dixon. He was raised in Shelbina and was a graduate of Shelbina High School. He was a corporal in the United States Army during World War II and served in the Pacific Theatre as a Morse code radioman. On July 17, 1943, he was united in marriage to Sylvia 'Sylva' Lorene Todd, in Shelbina. He was employed for several years as a lineotype operator for various newspapers and printing companies. The couple later moved to Grinnell and he worked for 25 years with ASI Signage Solutions as a typesetter and project manager. Bob enjoyed sharing his time with family and friends, entertaining, and making people laugh. He was a very caring and proud father and took an active interest in his family's talents. He loved playing the piano (by ear) and sing-a-longs with his wife Sylva performing at area clubs and nursing homes. He was an avid gardener, and enjoyed flowers, birds and barbequing on his grill. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church; Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree; the Elks Lodge; and the American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Sylva of Grinnell; eight children, Cheryl (Terry) Dillard of Mt. Sterling, IL, Robert S. 'Steve' (Cheryl) Dixon of Plattsmouth, NE, Dianne (Tom) Latimer of Grinnell, Debbie (Andy) Norris of Columbia, MO, Dottie (Mark) McLaughlin of Grinnell, Craig (Jane) Dixon and Julie (Glenny Ledbetter) Link of Hannibal, MO and Chris Dixon of Grinnell; fifteen grandchildren, Tim (Ronda Mercier) Dillard and Amy (Scott) Carr of Mt. Sterling, IL, Brian Dixon of Arvada, CO, Stephanie Dixon of Denver, CO,Erin (Todd) Carey of Omaha, NE, Ben Latimer of Grinnell, Greg (Janet) Norris of Overland Park, KS, Kelli (Steve) Buescher of Satellite Beach, FL, Dayna (Donald) Ellis and Matt (Jessica) McLaughlin of Grinnell, Allison (Carey) Kramer of North Kansas City, MO, Eric Dixon of Virginia Beach, VA, Spencer Dixon of Quincy, IL and Bridgett (Preston Lewis) Lane and Chris 'Jodie' Link of Hannibal, MO; twenty-four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Catherine McWilliams of Shelbina, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Stephen A. Dixon. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association (Central Iowa Chapter), Grinnell Regional Hospice, Mayflower Human Needs Fund or to St. Mary's Catholic Church.