There is a time and a place for everything. Often times, the only acceptable way to write an obituary is very solemn and respectfully. It isn’t always easy to come up with the right phrases and adjectives to embrace the life of someone we have lost.

But the family of William Dillon spent the time to capture his (and their) personalities and quirks in a final tribute to him that we published on Friday, Nov. 20. The “surviving” members of his family brought to bear his love of classic cars without diminishing his love for family. They highlighted his uncanny ability to recognize the right woman for him and to capture her love in amazingly fast periods of time. Perhaps, he just didn’t want to pay for dates?

They refused to let him claim real Butler residence as they pointed out that he was born outside of Butler County, and we all know you are never really from Butler if you weren’t born here.

The funny things they remember so well about his rules of how to do things and when to do them really made him come alive to the readers. And they conveyed very well not only his love for family, but also his dedication to them and his desire to leave tangible legacies, such as his family camp and family reunions.

We congratulate his family on a piece well written and a tribute that stands out from the norm, yet expresses their love and respect for him and what he taught them every day of their lives. We hope more families will see this and share as much personal insight as the Dillon family did. Everyone should have had the honor of knowing him. We wish we had.

— RV