Howard Dixon

Howard Dixon, age 96 of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If asked Howard described himself as a sailor and his life certainly revolved around the sea. He graduated from Kings Point in 1942 and was one of the “Lost 42”. He served in both the Merchant Marines and the Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His ship was one of the first to enter Nagasaki harbor at the end of World War II. After the war Dad worked for Creole Petroleum in Venezuela and then Esso in New York. His work involved the movement of oil by tanker across the oceans of the world. He was one of the few that tirelessly worked to keep our gas tanks full and the lights on. Always a sailor: assigning cargos, managing harbor pilots, boarding ships to talk to captains, building deep-water ports and port captain. Our Dad saw the world and often lived where he worked from South America to the Middle East. He brought along his family and we lived the adventure with him.

We will remember our father on the beach walking in the surf, talking about the rich and wonderful world we live in and the people that make it so interesting. Dad was a doer and he judged people not by what they said or looked like, but by what they did to make the world a better place.

Dad thought of the sea as “La Mar” which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. We know that he is now in that heaven reserved for sailors, holding Alice’s hand and sailing a ship surrounded by his friends and fellow lovers of the sea. Finally, free and watching over all that are still here.

A private service will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to Community Hospice of NE Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257.