Joseph G. Dyson

Joseph Goodwin Dyson was born in Jackson, Mississippi on August 16, 1914 and passed peacefully on October 30, 2015 at the age of one hundred one. He was the youngest born to Horace and Isabel Bracey Dyson. His parents, four brothers (Harold, Douglas, Lamar and JL) and infant twin sisters, grandparents Femmie and Wash all preceded Joe in death.
Joe was reared by his beloved grandmother and grandfather in rural Mississippi where he worked on his grandparents’ farm from the age of 6—milking cows and collecting eggs among his chores. He always had a great love for education. Though it was difficult and not encouraged due to severe financial strain, he obtained as much education as he could as a youth, given the limited funds, access and financial needs. Despite the many barriers, he graduated from Lanier High School at age 21. He worked various jobs. His employment included the railroad, which brought him to Chicago, New Orleans and some western cities.
Cincinnati became Joe’s home in the 1930’s. Joe attended Chase College and worked as a cosmetics and insurance salesman, a realtor, and finally retired as a building engineer for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where he was employed over 20 years. He was among the first staff in current building on Martin Luther King Blvd. After retirement, Dad volunteered at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in the Pharmacy department for 17 years (over 6,000 hours). He was a valuable presence because of his reliability and excellent help.
Joe joined Calvary Methodist Church (7th and Smith site) under the leadership of Rev. Morris. He remained an active and devoted member of Calvary for many decades. His deep commitment to Calvary was demonstrated by financial and service support. Joe at one time served as Sunday school teacher; in the Men’s Chorus; and as superintendent of Calvary’s Sunday school. It was in Calvary that he met his wife, Lillian Leslie. Their enduring union lasted 64 years, until Lillian’s death in (2009) and produced 4 children. Lillian was equally devoted to Calvary.
Joe was a World War II veteran, stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1945. Later, Dad joined the Disabled American Veterans, Ohio Chapter 109 (now Chapter 1) Joe served as chapter chaplain.
After many years of very hard work, Joe and Lillian traveled the world. Their pictures and comments about their trips to Asia, the Holy Land, Europe and the Caribbean Islands showed how much they enjoyed the beautiful sights.
Joe enjoyed his extended family. Home was exceedingly important to him. He enjoyed cooking in the family back yard the best, most delicious barbeque ribs ever. He loved singing. He enjoyed reciting poetry to his children. He always had an appropriate saying for any situation—even if not always understood. Joe’s deep appreciation of education was manifest in his continuous message of its importance to all of his children, including the girls. This encouragement was given at a time when many considered education for girls unimportant, even a waste of time. Due to Joe and Lillian’s strong encouragement, all four children are college grads.
Joe’s life encompassed many significant 20th century changes. The scope of his long life took him from rural south to modern cities; from a manual mechanical world to the digital; from the US to world travel. Of all the changes he witnessed, the most remarkable to him was flight. He witnessed early flight to space travel.
Joe’s positive spirit was expressed in his joy in life. “The greatest blessing is that which is passed on to someone else.” This quotation reflects his philosophy of life. Memory of Joe Dyson’s life will be shared among his four children—Jo Ann Dawson (William), Doris Dyson, William Dyson, Linda Pinkston (Brian); grandchildren Khalid, Jamila, Connie, Gregory; many nieces and nephews; and multiple relatives who are members of the Anderson, Hoard, Garlington, Leslie, Smith, and Thomas clans, along with numerous friends.