Catherine Dillon Bullen

Catherine Dillon Bullen, 101, of Riderwood Retirement Community in Silver Spring, Md., passed away May 22.

Catherine was born Jan. 22, 1916, to Joseph Thomas Stehle and Olive Nancy Atwell Stehle in Butler.

After graduating from Butler High School in 1933, Catherine became employed as a legal secretary and later worked for the Federal Home Loan Board. She excelled in secretarial work and become the lead secretary to the president of the Bantam Automotive Co. that produced a prototype army vehicle now known as the Jeep. Catherine served as a source for the History Channel’s story of the Jeep.

At the start of the second World War, Catherine moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the National Paper Board for several years. She returned to Butler and was employed as an executive secretary at the Heckett Engineering Co. before her marriage.

On Feb. 5, 1949, Catherine married John C. Dillon Jr. of Butler, a veteran and a graduate of Harvard Law School who established a law practice in Butler and later served as a judge for the Butler County Court of Common Pleas from 1968 to 1985.

Catherine and John lived in Butler for 36 years and raised four children. After John died in 1985, Catherine remained in Butler for three years until she married John H. Bullen of Homosassa, Fla.

Catherine moved to Florida and lived with John “Jack” Bullen until his death in 1998. She and Jack were active members of the Riverhaven Community Center.

After Jack Bullen’s death in 1998, Catherine moved to California, Md. Her move allowed her to be close to her two sons, the Rev. John J. Dillon, pastor of at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Derwood, Md., and James C. Dillon of Gaithersburg, Md.

In 2008, Catherine moved to Riderwood Retirement Community in Silver Spring, Md., and continued to enjoy playing bridge, reading mystery and popular literature, and making new friends.

Catherine was predeceased by her brothers, Joseph Stehle and Raymond Stehle; her sisters, Mary S. Rockenstein and Anne S. Hope; and her daughter, Catherine C. Dillon.

She is survived by three children, the Rev. John J. Dillon of Derwood, Md., James C. Dillon (Alice) of Gaithersburg, Md., and Annemarie Dillon Casey (Dr. Paul) of Las Vegas, Nev.; her five grandchildren, John Dillon of Westminster, Md., Ann Dillon of Gaithersburg, Md., Mary Dillon of Germantown, Md., Emily Casey of Los Angeles, Calif., and Olivia Casey of San Francisco, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

BULLEN — Relatives and friends of Catherine Dillon Bullen, who died Monday, May 22, 2017, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, with Father Harry R. Bielewicz officiating.

To honor Catherine’s memory, donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be given at www.thompson-miller.com.