By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Dillard

Charles Dillard Sr., who dedicated his life to the Boy Scouts of America, died Oct. 15 in Pittsburg, Calif.

The former Walnut Hills resident was 83.

Mr. Dillard, who joined the Boy Scouts as a teenager, enjoyed a 36-year career as a district field Scout executive. His primary duties included recruiting and training volunteers.

"He was always generous, not only to his family but his community," said his wife, Alice. "He gave much of his time and resources."

She said her husband had a philosophy: "Anything you want to do, you can do it if you set your mind to it."

He was one of five sons born to Lula Mae Long and Charles Dillard in Carlton, Ga. The family moved to Cincinnati when he was a child, and Mr. Dillard graduated from Woodward High School in 1938.

In 1942, he graduated from Knoxville College in Tennessee with a bachelor's degree. He served with the Army in Germany and France during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946.

He married Alice Giles of Oklahoma City in 1946.

Mr. Dillard began his executive career with the Scouts in 1946 in Cincinnati. In 1950, he and his family moved to Newport News, Va. They later moved to Richmond, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Wheaton, Ill.

He also served in the Regional Boy Scout Headquarters in Oakbrook, Ill., and on the faculty of the Boy Scouts' Schiff Executive training School in Mendham, N.J.

Upon retirement in 1982, the Dillards moved to Pittsburgh, where Mr. Dillard served as president of their retirement community association, the Delta Hawaii Community Association.

He remained active with the Boy Scouts, taking troops camping and attending the Scout jamborees and annual meetings, until he was 75.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Methodist Men's Club, Kiwanis Club and Frontiers International.

He organized family reunions and loved to write, garden and make wine, which he gave as gifts to friends and relatives.

"He was a true patriot," said Mrs. Dillard. "He visited every state and saw something special and unique in each state."

In addition to his wife, survivors include: a brother, Johnnie of Bond Hill; a son, Charles Dillard Jr. of Pittsburg, Calif.; two daughters, Dixie Dillard Mootoo of Silver Spring, Md., and Renee Dillard-Holmes of Jacksonville, Fla.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m. Monday at J.C. Battle and Sons Funeral Home, 543 Rockdale Ave., Avondale.

Memorials: Boy Scouts of America, Dan Beard Council, 2331 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati 45206-2803.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com