Michael Dillow

Obituary

On Sunday, July 21, 2019, Michael Edward Dillow went to be with his Lord at the age of 64 after a long struggle with lymphoma.

Mike was born on July 16, 1955, in Jacksonville, Florida to Franklin and Shirley (Gruen) Dillow. After high school, he served in the United States Navy until 1979. He served as a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for two years. After returning to the states, Mike worked for many years in the wireless telecommunications business and started a variety of small businesses. He also served as an elder and youth leader in the Presbyterian Church of America for many years. He spent his last years living in Davao City, Philippines.

On June 18, 1977, Mike married Janeen (Heilman) Dillow. They had seven boys together, Aaron, Joshua, Jesse, Benjamin, Nathan, David, and Enan (stillborn), before getting a divorce (in 2011). He married his current wife, Joan (pronounced “Jo-ann”) Dillow, adopted Joan’s son, Kean, and together they had a son, Kyle, and a daughter, Allyson.

Mike loved people, was passionate about the gospel, and found a lot of joy in cross-cultural interactions. Over the years he threw himself into many hobbies, such as playing instruments, volunteer firefighting, volleyball, bowling, skiing, woodworking, and video karaoke. In his hobbies, the interaction with people was just as important as the activity itself.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Franklin, his mother, Shirley, and his brother, Robert. He is survived by his wife Joan, his nine children, Aaron, Joshua, Jesse, Benjamin, Nathan, David, Kean, Kyle, and Allyson, his brothers Frank and Bruce, his sisters Juanita and Linda, and sixteen grandchildren.

Mike was buried at the Willamette National Cemetery with military honors on July 25, 2019. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 27th, 2019, at GracePoint Christian Church in Vancouver, Washington, at 11:00 AM.