Ernest
Ernest Dillihay
Ernest Dillihay
, 93, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Affectionately known as “Ernie” by family and friends, Ernie was an active and devoted member of his community and church.
While stationed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, Ernie, a WWII Army Air Corps member, met his first wife, Betty, an enlistee in the Women’s Army Corps and fellow New Jersey native. They married and settled in Atlantic City, New Jersey. From their union, 4 children were born; Rosella, Ernest, Richard, and Annette.
Later divorced. Ernie moved to Philadelphia where he had many relatives. An avid tennis player, he met and married another tennis player, Kay Stokes, and adopted her son, Jeffrey.
It was always Ernie’s dream to return to AZ, and upon his retirement from the City of Philadelphia Taxation Division, he and Kay began planning their move. Unfortunately, Kay died, and Ernie relocated to AZ alone.
Music-jazz, classical, and choral- was Ernie’s other great passion, and as he had done throughout his life, he became a member of the Sun Lakes United Methodist Church Chorale and became a student of music as well as vibraphonist with the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Jazz Ensemble. He was also an active member of Compass (formerly Chandler) Christian Church of Chandler, AZ. Ernie thoroughly embraced the church fellowship and enjoyed the company of his bible study group and fellow church members, Paul and Donna Tatham, Dave and Jeanne Centers, Sonja Rowe, Irene Rasmussen, Carol Berkey, Korert Smith, Jadine Bowens, and devoted friends, Ann Caswell and Ray and Carl Ann Hopton. Ernie was also a dues paying member of the American Legion and supported many charities such as Literacy and Evangelism International and Zion’s Hope. He was always learning and taking up new interest such playing the ukulele and stamp collecting.
In his absence, Ernie leaves behind his four children, Rosella D. Corbin-Brown (Charles) of Bowie, MD; Ernest Dillihay, of Los Angeles now living in Maricopa City, AZ; Richard P. Dillihay (Bernadette) of Pleasantville, NJ; Annette D. Robinson (Larry) of Marietta, GA; and Jeffrey Dillihay (Juanita) of Upper Darby, PA; 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren; devoted niece, Sandra Stewart of Atlantic City, NJ and a host of loving relatives and friends. He will be sadly missed by them all. Ernie was predeceased by his mother, father, two wives, and 6 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at Compass Christian Church in Chandler on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Bueler Chandler Mortuary, 24 W Hulet Drive, Chandler, AZ 85225. Arrangements by Bueler Chandler Mortuary.
, 93, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Affectionately known as “Ernie” by family and friends, Ernie was an active and devoted member of his community and church.
While stationed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, Ernie, a WWII Army Air Corps member, met his first wife, Betty, an enlistee in the Women’s Army Corps and fellow New Jersey native. They married and settled in Atlantic City, New Jersey. From their union, 4 children were born; Rosella, Ernest, Richard, and Annette.
Later divorced. Ernie moved to Philadelphia where he had many relatives. An avid tennis player, he met and married another tennis player, Kay Stokes, and adopted her son, Jeffrey.
It was always Ernie’s dream to return to AZ, and upon his retirement from the City of Philadelphia Taxation Division, he and Kay began planning their move. Unfortunately, Kay died, and Ernie relocated to AZ alone.
Music-jazz, classical, and choral- was Ernie’s other great passion, and as he had done throughout his life, he became a member of the Sun Lakes United Methodist Church Chorale and became a student of music as well as vibraphonist with the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Jazz Ensemble. He was also an active member of Compass (formerly Chandler) Christian Church of Chandler, AZ. Ernie thoroughly embraced the church fellowship and enjoyed the company of his bible study group and fellow church members, Paul and Donna Tatham, Dave and Jeanne Centers, Sonja Rowe, Irene Rasmussen, Carol Berkey, Korert Smith, Jadine Bowens, and devoted friends, Ann Caswell and Ray and Carl Ann Hopton. Ernie was also a dues paying member of the American Legion and supported many charities such as Literacy and Evangelism International and Zion’s Hope. He was always learning and taking up new interest such playing the ukulele and stamp collecting.
In his absence, Ernie leaves behind his four children, Rosella D. Corbin-Brown (Charles) of Bowie, MD; Ernest Dillihay, of Los Angeles now living in Maricopa City, AZ; Richard P. Dillihay (Bernadette) of Pleasantville, NJ; Annette D. Robinson (Larry) of Marietta, GA; and Jeffrey Dillihay (Juanita) of Upper Darby, PA; 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren; devoted niece, Sandra Stewart of Atlantic City, NJ and a host of loving relatives and friends. He will be sadly missed by them all. Ernie was predeceased by his mother, father, two wives, and 6 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at Compass Christian Church in Chandler on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Bueler Chandler Mortuary, 24 W Hulet Drive, Chandler, AZ 85225. Arrangements by Bueler Chandler Mortuary.
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