Reverend Canon Lewis Sandison Dixon

DIXON, Lewis Sandison (Rev. Canon) – On the morning of Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Lew went home to be with his Maker. Born in 1922 on a snowy morning near rural Walter’s Falls, Ontario, Lew was the second of Ernest and Barbara Dixon’s six children. He is predeceased by three siblings, Allan, John, and Agnes, and survived by Evelyn (Chapple-Fletcher) and Barbara (McKee). Lew had many passions in life but foremost were his beloved wife Norma, and his children, Mary Lou (married to Kenneth Anderson) and Kevin (married to Diane). Lew’s grandchildren, Hilary Dencev (Mark) and Richard Anderson (Erika) were blessed to have a long, full and close relationship with their grandfather. The addition of great-grandchildren, Sophia and Imogen Dencev and Alexander and Audrey Anderson, added to the richness of his last few years. Uncle Lew will also be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews.

After his childhood on the farm, Lew joined the RCAF in 1942 and served in England until the end of the Second World War. He continued with the Air Force until 1953. During subsequent years, he worked in the construction business before resuming formal studies to become an Anglican priest. Following ordination in 1964, he was assistant at New St. Paul’s (Woodstock); rector at Church of the Redeemer (Highgate), Church of the Advent (Ridgetown), and for seventeen and half years, rector of St. James (Roseland) Windsor.

Lew was hard-working, resourceful and positive, and always remained down to earth at heart. During their many retirement years, he and Norma were blessed with good health that allowed them to travel widely, spend summers with family at the cottage on Georgian Bay, and enjoy many winters with friends in Mexico. At age 85, Lew still loved going for early morning swims at the cottage; at age 86, he walked the Great Wall of China; at 87, enjoyed a grand celebration with Norma of their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Lew counted his blessings and contributed to the community through his involvement with the church and his relationships with family and friends. Lew had a long, full and good life.

As he begins his next adventure with his Lord, a celebration of Lew’s life will be held at St. James (Westminster) Anglican Church, 115 Askin Street, London, Ontario on Tuesday, April 10 at 2:00 pm preceded by visitation at the church from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm. Burial of ashes will be at a later date at St. Philip’s Anglican Cemetery, Walter’s Falls, Ontario.

Memorial donations may be made to the Huron University College Foundation, 1349 Western Road, London, Ontario, N6G 1H3 for the Canon Lewis Dixon Memorial Bursary, to support the studies of theological students.