Colonel Clarence Dixon of Weston, a beloved family man and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, died Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at the age of 94.
Clarence is survived by his adoring wife, Laura Paltrineri Dixon, and his four stepdaughters and their spouses: Laurel Gill and her husband Francis of Marlborough, MA, Cheryl Poitras and her husband Mark of Gorham, ME, Wendy Fox D'Angelo and her husband Steven of Westwood, MA, and Cynthia Klocek and her husband John of Holden, MA.
Clarence’s love also lives on through his ten cherished grandchildren—Tiffany Gill, Hunter Poitras, Amelia Fox, Liam Gill, Emma Fox, Tyler Gill, Lucy Klocek, Finn Fox,Vincent Klocek, and Eloise Klocek.
In addition, Clarence is survived by his five children: Jim of Ohio, Rob of Colorado, Carol of Georgia, Bill and his wife Sheila of Georgia, and Kris of Georgia.
Clarence graduated in 1953 from Morehouse College in his hometown of Atlanta. Growing up, his family pastor was civil rights leader Ralph D. Abernathy.
Dixon entered the Air Force with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and spent most of his career as a personnel officer and computer resource manager.
He served at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines from August 1963 to March of 1965, helping with the movement of U.S. troops into Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war.
Dixon was assigned to attend graduate school at Texas A&M University in the fall of 1965, where he earned a master’s degree in computer science in 1967. He was the first Black student to earn a diploma from the newly integrated institution.
In early 1970s, Dixon earned a Bronze Star and the Air Force Commendation Medal in Thailand. He was a deputy base commander and director of personnel at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, which the U.S. used during the Vietnam war for reconnaissance and strategic bomber missions.
The Bronze Star citation said his “exemplary ability, professional expertise, and dynamic drive were instrumental” in resolving “myriad complex personnel problems of major importance to air operations in Southeast Asia.”
Dixon returned to the U.S. and was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland from 1973 to 1976. There he was personnel director and served in the Honor Guard that greeted U.S. Presidents and other world leaders upon their arrival to the Washington D.C. area.
His military decorations also include the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
Before he retired, he finished his career at Digital in Maynard.
Clarence enjoyed photography, being with his family and meeting fellow Veterans whom he often connected with instantly. Always having a positive attitude, if anyone would ask how his day was going he would answer “I can’t think of anything to complain about.”
Visitation at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. Wellesley, on Friday, September 26, from 4-7PM. Funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, September 27, at 11AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in Clarence’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.