Obituary of Lawrence Dick Dickerson

Lawrence Edward "Dick" Dickerson Jr. peacefully passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at his home in Vancouver. Born on January 25, 1923 in Tyrone, Oklahoma to Lawrence and Faye Dickerson, Dick was 87 years old. A Camas-Washougal resident since 1938, Dick graduated from Washougal High School in 1942. Later that year, he married the love of his life Elsie Stoller in Portland, Oregon. After high school he went to work for Pendleton Woolen Mills in Washougal until World War II. Once the war started, he went to work as a welder in the Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver making Liberty Ships. After the war, Dick was hired as an apprentice auto body repairman by John Westlie at Westlie Ford in Camas. He reached his true calling in 1950 when Mr. Westlie promoted him to the sales department. During the 1950's he became one of the Pacific Northwest's leading Ford car salesman receiving national, regional awards and recognitions. In 1960 he and Boggie Bogdan purchased Westlie Ford from John Westlie. In 1984 he purchased the dealership from the Bogdan family and continued to co-own the dealership with his sons Randy and Mike. In 2009, his grandson Ryan came to work at the dealership marking three generations of family ownership. Outside of work, Dick was a member of Orchard Hills Golf Country Club in Washougal from 1966-1996, and enjoyed restoring old antique Ford vehicles, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends. Dick is survived by his sons Mike (Haroldene) Dickerson of Camas, Washington, Randy (Charlotte) Dickerson of Vancouver, Washington, sister Lea Hoogs of Portland, Oregon, daughter-in-law Alona Dickerson-Moller of Camas, and grandchildren Shelly LaFrance, of Vancouver, Washington, Ryan Dickerson of Camas, Washington, and Bret (Kayla) Dickerson of Vancouver, Washington. He was preceded in death by the love of his life of 61 years Elsie Dickerson in 2004, his sister, and two brothers. There will be a celebration of Dick's life on Saturday, April 10th at 2:00 pm at Grace Foursquare Church: 717 SE Everett Road, Camas, WA 98607. Vault interment will be held at the Washougal Memorial Cemetery in Washougal. Viewing will be held on Thursday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at Brown's Funeral Home in Camas. Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Camas has been entrusted with arrangements.