Charles Samuel "Sam" Dixon
December 10, 1929 — March 6, 2020
Charles Samuel “Sam” Dixon, 90, of Marion, Iowa, left to be with his Lord Friday, March 6, 2020, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All public services have been postponed until a later date.
Sam was born December 10, 1929, in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the son of Henry and Alma (Barnett) Dixon. His mother passed away when he was five. His father remarried to Edna (Foy) Barham creating a family of 11 brothers and sisters. Sam served honorably in the United States Army from 1951 to 1962 as a radio repairman, reaching the rank of SP6. From 1955 to 1958 he served in Special Forces Group 10 in Bad Tolz, Germany. It was here that this became the first Army base to authorize the Green Beret headgear. It was also here, in Bad Tolz, that he met the love of his life, Viktoria “Dora” Penzkofer. On February 11, 1956, Sam was united in marriage to Dora. Before moving back to the states in 1962, they had two boys. Sam found work at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids as an electronics technician in the machine maintenance department. They had two more children, a son and daughter. Retiring in 1986, Sam and Dora were able to enjoy retirement heading for Florida during the cold months and the rest of the time back in Iowa. While in Florida, Sam enjoyed doing one of his favorite pastimes, fresh water fishing, with Dora. While at home in Iowa, he enjoyed riding his bicycle on the local trails with friends and family.
Beginning at age 40, Sam’s unwavering faith defined him most. He had an extensive faith that reached out to his family, friends, and anyone who would listen to him. Sam’s knowledge and hunger for God’s holy word never waned and always grew. His passion to know Jesus was clear through his memorizing of the Scriptures. Early in his faith walk he recorded his voice using reel-to-reel tape to play back Bible verses to “hide God’s word in his heart.” As a result, Sam memorized multiple books of the Bible. He led a number of Bible studies and especially enjoyed teaching The Bible Walk Through. One of his favorite past times was attending home Bible studies, whether he led them or not, including one that he had attended since the late 1980’s.
Sam is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 64 years, Dora of Marion; three sons, Charles “Chuck” Dixon (Candi Schnepf) of Anamosa, Iowa, Robert “Rob” (Barb) Dixon of Troy Mills, Iowa, and Daniel “Dan” (Jenn) Dixon of Chandler, Arizona; daughter, Heidi (Ray) Peters of Council Bluffs, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Heather, Matt, Nick, Austin, Kelli Jo, Rachel, Caleb, Charles “CJ”; ten great-grandchildren, Abel (Sydney), Kaleb, Morgan, Katlynn, Pacience, Bridget, Genevieve, Reagan, Dominic, and Caleigh; one brother, Charles G. Barham of Philadelphia, Mississippi; one sister, Martha Steele of Birmingham, Alabama; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother; three brothers, Ed, Joe, and Billy Dixon; five sisters, Mildred Lea, Ruby Murphy, Bertha Hatchcock, Nancy West, and Jean Coker; and two grandsons, infant Samuel Peters and Josh Dixon.
In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be directed to Bridgehaven Pregnancy Support Center in Cedar Rapids.
Sam was born December 10, 1929, in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the son of Henry and Alma (Barnett) Dixon. His mother passed away when he was five. His father remarried to Edna (Foy) Barham creating a family of 11 brothers and sisters. Sam served honorably in the United States Army from 1951 to 1962 as a radio repairman, reaching the rank of SP6. From 1955 to 1958 he served in Special Forces Group 10 in Bad Tolz, Germany. It was here that this became the first Army base to authorize the Green Beret headgear. It was also here, in Bad Tolz, that he met the love of his life, Viktoria “Dora” Penzkofer. On February 11, 1956, Sam was united in marriage to Dora. Before moving back to the states in 1962, they had two boys. Sam found work at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids as an electronics technician in the machine maintenance department. They had two more children, a son and daughter. Retiring in 1986, Sam and Dora were able to enjoy retirement heading for Florida during the cold months and the rest of the time back in Iowa. While in Florida, Sam enjoyed doing one of his favorite pastimes, fresh water fishing, with Dora. While at home in Iowa, he enjoyed riding his bicycle on the local trails with friends and family.
Beginning at age 40, Sam’s unwavering faith defined him most. He had an extensive faith that reached out to his family, friends, and anyone who would listen to him. Sam’s knowledge and hunger for God’s holy word never waned and always grew. His passion to know Jesus was clear through his memorizing of the Scriptures. Early in his faith walk he recorded his voice using reel-to-reel tape to play back Bible verses to “hide God’s word in his heart.” As a result, Sam memorized multiple books of the Bible. He led a number of Bible studies and especially enjoyed teaching The Bible Walk Through. One of his favorite past times was attending home Bible studies, whether he led them or not, including one that he had attended since the late 1980’s.
Sam is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 64 years, Dora of Marion; three sons, Charles “Chuck” Dixon (Candi Schnepf) of Anamosa, Iowa, Robert “Rob” (Barb) Dixon of Troy Mills, Iowa, and Daniel “Dan” (Jenn) Dixon of Chandler, Arizona; daughter, Heidi (Ray) Peters of Council Bluffs, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Heather, Matt, Nick, Austin, Kelli Jo, Rachel, Caleb, Charles “CJ”; ten great-grandchildren, Abel (Sydney), Kaleb, Morgan, Katlynn, Pacience, Bridget, Genevieve, Reagan, Dominic, and Caleigh; one brother, Charles G. Barham of Philadelphia, Mississippi; one sister, Martha Steele of Birmingham, Alabama; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother; three brothers, Ed, Joe, and Billy Dixon; five sisters, Mildred Lea, Ruby Murphy, Bertha Hatchcock, Nancy West, and Jean Coker; and two grandsons, infant Samuel Peters and Josh Dixon.
In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be directed to Bridgehaven Pregnancy Support Center in Cedar Rapids.
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