Obituary for Daniel Dougal "Dan" Dillard III
Daniel ‘Dan’ Dillard, III was born in Mt. Vernon, WA on July 21, 1940 to Daniel D. Dillard, II and Margaret Fern (Gregory) Dillard of Concrete, WA. The Dillard family came to Oak Harbor in 1942 while Dan’s father was in the Civil Service during WWII, and worked for Public Works Department at NAS Whidbey Island.
Dan grew up when kids worked while still in school. Many of the local youngsters worked on farms, picking berries and other produce, bucking hay bales, and looking after farm animals. Dan also helped his dad, who built several houses in Oak Harbor. In his free time as a child, Dan loved fishing on the pier, that used to be in the bay, and clamming and crabbing. He would also catch smelt on the beach and would hunt deer and trap mink. (He would sell the mink pelts to Sears + Roebuck for $25.00.) Dan was an Eagle Scout and a very good swimmer, qualifying to be a lifeguard.
As a teenager, Dan and his buddies were very active in a small car club that they founded and named ‘The Challengers.’ They became quite proficient in tinkering, modifying, and building their vehicles’ engines to perform quite fast! They even built a very unique and unconventional prototype vehicle that led to some “friendly chats” with the local constables. Later in life (1997), Dan became a member of the ‘Whidbey Cruisers,’ alongside some of his friends from ‘The Challengers’ days.
After graduating from Oak Harbor High School in 1958, Dan attended Skagit Valley College in Mt. Vernon and enrolled in hair salon training, becoming a licensed cosmetologist. In the early 1960s, Dan enlisted in the US Army and attended basic training in Fort Ord, California. He served in the Honor Guard and was also co-Squad Leader with his friends, Arnie Dekwa and Jerry Sakota. He excelled as a rifle marksman. His formal training was completed at the US Army Armory Center, in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, where he learned how to service and operate armored tanks. Dan completed his reserve service in 1966 and was Honorably Discharged in December.
Dan lived in the South Bay area of LA County and managed a popular salon on Manhattan Beach, diving for abalone and scuba diving in his free time. He met his future wife, Elaine, at the salon when she became a client, and they began dating in 1967, marrying in 1969. In 1970, Dan and Elaine moved from Southern California to Washington and settled in Oak Harbor where they raised three children: Annalisa, Jennifer, and Daniel ‘Danny’ Dillard, IV.
Having managed a hair salon in Southern California previously, Dan was proficient in business and management, and used his skills to own and operate his own hair salon and sporting goods store, specializing in skateboards and snowboards, here in Oak Harbor. After leaving his salon, Dan worked several years at Deception Pass State Park, helping maintenance and operate heavy equipment; and for Brown + Root Construction for NAS Whidbey Island Housing department.
The family attended the Presbyterian Church for many years.
Dan passed away to be with his Lord and Savior on June 19, 2020, after suffering several months from a long and painful illness with many complications and several emergency and long-term hospital admissions. Although he never tested positive for Covid-19, he ultimately succumbed to metastatic cancer, which had spread throughout his body, that was not detected until discovery during a cervical spine surgery on May 21, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Seattle.
Dan is survived by his wife, Elaine; his daughter, Jenny, and her three sons: Danny, Joey, and Jonny; his adopted daughter, Annalisa, and her son, Zane; and his two younger brothers, Dennis M. Dillard of Issaquah, and Duane G. Dillard of Oak Harbor. He is predeceased by his son, Dan Dillard IV, who will be laid to rest with him at Maple Leaf Cemetery on April 12, 2021 at 10am with the guidance of Pastor Jesse Raymond.
Dan grew up when kids worked while still in school. Many of the local youngsters worked on farms, picking berries and other produce, bucking hay bales, and looking after farm animals. Dan also helped his dad, who built several houses in Oak Harbor. In his free time as a child, Dan loved fishing on the pier, that used to be in the bay, and clamming and crabbing. He would also catch smelt on the beach and would hunt deer and trap mink. (He would sell the mink pelts to Sears + Roebuck for $25.00.) Dan was an Eagle Scout and a very good swimmer, qualifying to be a lifeguard.
As a teenager, Dan and his buddies were very active in a small car club that they founded and named ‘The Challengers.’ They became quite proficient in tinkering, modifying, and building their vehicles’ engines to perform quite fast! They even built a very unique and unconventional prototype vehicle that led to some “friendly chats” with the local constables. Later in life (1997), Dan became a member of the ‘Whidbey Cruisers,’ alongside some of his friends from ‘The Challengers’ days.
After graduating from Oak Harbor High School in 1958, Dan attended Skagit Valley College in Mt. Vernon and enrolled in hair salon training, becoming a licensed cosmetologist. In the early 1960s, Dan enlisted in the US Army and attended basic training in Fort Ord, California. He served in the Honor Guard and was also co-Squad Leader with his friends, Arnie Dekwa and Jerry Sakota. He excelled as a rifle marksman. His formal training was completed at the US Army Armory Center, in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, where he learned how to service and operate armored tanks. Dan completed his reserve service in 1966 and was Honorably Discharged in December.
Dan lived in the South Bay area of LA County and managed a popular salon on Manhattan Beach, diving for abalone and scuba diving in his free time. He met his future wife, Elaine, at the salon when she became a client, and they began dating in 1967, marrying in 1969. In 1970, Dan and Elaine moved from Southern California to Washington and settled in Oak Harbor where they raised three children: Annalisa, Jennifer, and Daniel ‘Danny’ Dillard, IV.
Having managed a hair salon in Southern California previously, Dan was proficient in business and management, and used his skills to own and operate his own hair salon and sporting goods store, specializing in skateboards and snowboards, here in Oak Harbor. After leaving his salon, Dan worked several years at Deception Pass State Park, helping maintenance and operate heavy equipment; and for Brown + Root Construction for NAS Whidbey Island Housing department.
The family attended the Presbyterian Church for many years.
Dan passed away to be with his Lord and Savior on June 19, 2020, after suffering several months from a long and painful illness with many complications and several emergency and long-term hospital admissions. Although he never tested positive for Covid-19, he ultimately succumbed to metastatic cancer, which had spread throughout his body, that was not detected until discovery during a cervical spine surgery on May 21, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Seattle.
Dan is survived by his wife, Elaine; his daughter, Jenny, and her three sons: Danny, Joey, and Jonny; his adopted daughter, Annalisa, and her son, Zane; and his two younger brothers, Dennis M. Dillard of Issaquah, and Duane G. Dillard of Oak Harbor. He is predeceased by his son, Dan Dillard IV, who will be laid to rest with him at Maple Leaf Cemetery on April 12, 2021 at 10am with the guidance of Pastor Jesse Raymond.