David Francis "Dave" Dillon, 74, of Columbia, died on March 14, 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina. Born on March 2, 1939 in Hudson, Michigan, he was the son of the late James E. and Patricia D. Dillon.

Dave graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology and corrections and a master's degree in social work from Florida State University, where he met his wife, Susan M. "Sue" Dillon. Before college, Dave served for 4 years in the U.S. Air Force. Early in his career as a social worker, he worked at the Florida Sheriff's Boys Ranch in Live Oak, Florida where he touched the lives of many boys and their families. From there, he was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Jackson where he was Chief of Mental Hygiene Consultation Services, where he worked with other professionals to provide mental health services to the servicemen. After leaving the Army, he worked as a social worker at the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, at one time serving as Director of the Division of Child Health. During this time, Dave served on the Board of Directors for the SC State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. In 1981, he decided to pursue his lifelong desire to work with his hands and left his work at DHEC to start his own carpentry business, through which he perfected his craft. He continued this very fulfilling work while forming significant relationships with his customers and apprentices until 2000 when he suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Dave was very active at Windsor United Methodist Church and combined both of his careers as a social worker and carpenter in his desire to help those in need. He was involved in many outreach programs, but his passion was the Salkehatchie Summer Service Project. Salkehatchie is a United Methodist service program designed for teenagers to spend a week each summer repairing homes of those in need throughout South Carolina which not only affects the lives of those whose homes are repaired, but deeply touches the lives of the volunteers. Dave worked at many sites across South Carolina for 27 years, but was most committed as a site leader and camp director at the Penn Center Salkehatchie Camp in St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

Dave will be remembered for his integrity, his loyalty to friends and family, his sense of humor, his gregariousness, and his steadfast desire and willingness to help people in need.

Dave is survived by his loving and incredibly devoted wife of 47 years, Sue Dillon; his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Sandy Dillon of Sacramento California; his sister and brother-in-law, Andrea and Jack Beach of West Palm Beach, Florida; his son and daughter-in-law, James "Jim" and Ann Dillon, and their two children Reilly and Claire, of St. Louis; his daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Dean Vandelay, and their two children David and Susana, of Columbia; his daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Jason McCabe, and their three children, Ellie, Molly and Katherine "Kate", of Charleston; as well as many nieces, nephews and wonderful family friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Patsy and Phyllis.

A memorial service for Dave Dillon will be held at 1pm on Monday, March 18, 2013 at Windsor United Methodist Church, 9500 Windsor Lake Blvd, Columbia. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials in memory of Dave Dillon be made to Salkehatchie Summer Service Project, Penn Center, c/o Reverend Steve Brown, 701 Cleveland St., Greenville, SC 29601.