Obituary for Colonel Roy Brice Dille, Jr.
Roy Brice Dille, Jr., age 87, Colonel, United States Air Force, retired, a longtime resident of Altus, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, June 15, 2020 at Magnolia Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation in Altus.
Brice was born on April 22, 1933 in Phoenix, Arizona to his parents Roy Brice Dille, Sr. and Mabel Dorothy (Schmidt) Dille. He was raised in Pheonix where he graduated high school and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in Geology from Arizona State University. On July 10, 1955 Brice married Gloria Ann Howard in Las Vegas, Nevada and they have enjoyed over 64 years of marriage together.
Colonel Roy Brice Dille, Jr. entered the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and became a navigator. While with the 75th Squadron, he flew Pacific routes. He witnessed six atomic tests at Eniwetok Island and flew the aircraft that carried the results of the atomic tests to the United States. Next Colonel Dille received pilot training and graduated top of his class. He flew C-124's around the world and was a check pilot on the Berlin Corridor. In the late sixties Colonel Dille flew C-141's in Vietnam and he later flew C-118's in the Philippines. In 1972 he served as the head of Instructional System Development and later Colonel Dille and family landed at Altus Air Force Base and he became the Commander of the 57th C-141 Squadron. After that assignment Colonel Dille served as the Commander of the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron and flew C-5's. In 1978 he was the Commander of the 608th Squadron at Ramstein, Germany and in 1981 Colonel Dille was assigned to McGuire Air Force Base, 21st Air Squadron as Chief Safety Officer. Throughout his career as a pilot Colonel Dille attained over 12,000 flight hours. Colonel Dille and family were stationed in Arizona, California, Texas, New Jersey, Delaware, Germany, and Oklahoma. Colonel Dille retired in 1985 with over 30 years of service as a Colonel and he received numerous awards and decorations and wartime deployment awards and citations for his service in the United States Air Force and his country.
After retiring from the Air Force Colonel Dille became a C-5 instructor pilot for Flight Safety and after instructing for 17 years he retired in 2003. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Altus. Brice loved being out in nature. He enjoyed boating, fishing and feeding the deer at Lake Altus. He had a love for music and playing his guitar. He was a loyal patron at the Friendship Inn and Araceli’s where he enjoyed good friends and he was known as the "Fruit Plate Man".
Preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mable Dille. Colonel Dille is survived by his wife Gloria Ann Dille; son, Roy Brice Dille, III and wife Carol; daughters, Brenda Hensley and husband Berry; and Jennifer Dille; brothers, Jerry Dille and wife Vi; and Donnie Dille and wife Betty; sisters, Paula Kittrick; and Jane Robles; grandchildren, Colin Hensley and wife Kasey; Walker Dille and wife Addison; Haylee Drake; Morgan Wong and husband Cesar; Hannah Drake; and William Dille and wife Amanda; great grandchildren, Hayden Drake; Ronny Shemayme; and Beck Dille; numerous nieces and nephews and other family members, as well as many friends.
In accordance with Colonel Roy Dille's wishes, private family services will be held under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
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Brice was born on April 22, 1933 in Phoenix, Arizona to his parents Roy Brice Dille, Sr. and Mabel Dorothy (Schmidt) Dille. He was raised in Pheonix where he graduated high school and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in Geology from Arizona State University. On July 10, 1955 Brice married Gloria Ann Howard in Las Vegas, Nevada and they have enjoyed over 64 years of marriage together.
Colonel Roy Brice Dille, Jr. entered the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and became a navigator. While with the 75th Squadron, he flew Pacific routes. He witnessed six atomic tests at Eniwetok Island and flew the aircraft that carried the results of the atomic tests to the United States. Next Colonel Dille received pilot training and graduated top of his class. He flew C-124's around the world and was a check pilot on the Berlin Corridor. In the late sixties Colonel Dille flew C-141's in Vietnam and he later flew C-118's in the Philippines. In 1972 he served as the head of Instructional System Development and later Colonel Dille and family landed at Altus Air Force Base and he became the Commander of the 57th C-141 Squadron. After that assignment Colonel Dille served as the Commander of the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron and flew C-5's. In 1978 he was the Commander of the 608th Squadron at Ramstein, Germany and in 1981 Colonel Dille was assigned to McGuire Air Force Base, 21st Air Squadron as Chief Safety Officer. Throughout his career as a pilot Colonel Dille attained over 12,000 flight hours. Colonel Dille and family were stationed in Arizona, California, Texas, New Jersey, Delaware, Germany, and Oklahoma. Colonel Dille retired in 1985 with over 30 years of service as a Colonel and he received numerous awards and decorations and wartime deployment awards and citations for his service in the United States Air Force and his country.
After retiring from the Air Force Colonel Dille became a C-5 instructor pilot for Flight Safety and after instructing for 17 years he retired in 2003. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Altus. Brice loved being out in nature. He enjoyed boating, fishing and feeding the deer at Lake Altus. He had a love for music and playing his guitar. He was a loyal patron at the Friendship Inn and Araceli’s where he enjoyed good friends and he was known as the "Fruit Plate Man".
Preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mable Dille. Colonel Dille is survived by his wife Gloria Ann Dille; son, Roy Brice Dille, III and wife Carol; daughters, Brenda Hensley and husband Berry; and Jennifer Dille; brothers, Jerry Dille and wife Vi; and Donnie Dille and wife Betty; sisters, Paula Kittrick; and Jane Robles; grandchildren, Colin Hensley and wife Kasey; Walker Dille and wife Addison; Haylee Drake; Morgan Wong and husband Cesar; Hannah Drake; and William Dille and wife Amanda; great grandchildren, Hayden Drake; Ronny Shemayme; and Beck Dille; numerous nieces and nephews and other family members, as well as many friends.
In accordance with Colonel Roy Dille's wishes, private family services will be held under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
To send flowers in memory of Colonel Roy Brice Dille, Jr., visit the Tribute Store.
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