Philip Dixon

Philip Rudolph Dixon was born May 19, 1945, in Batesville, AR, to Rudolph and Berniece Dixon. After Rudolph’s WWII service in the Coast Guard ended, he and Berniece moved to Newport, AR, where Phil spent his childhood and school years. He attended Harding College where he participated in A Cappella Chorus and Belles & Beaux all four years, as well as served in various class officer positions.

After graduating from Harding in 1967, he worked toward his master’s degree at Florida State University and also served as the first campus minister for the Call Street Church of Christ. In January 1968, he attended Coast Guard OCS and was stationed in Cape May, NJ. There he reconnected with other Harding alumni who became lifelong friends. On June 19, 1970, he married Ann Cowan, and in their 53 years together they raised four children and shared many adventures traveling the country and the world.

After graduating from the University of Arkansas Law School in 1974, Phil spent his career helping people through estate planning in banks in Jonesboro, Mountain Home, and Rogers. In 1993, he returned to his alma mater to work in Harding’s advancement office before returning to the banking world where he retired from Regions Bank in Little Rock in 2015.

Phil used his talents and creativity in numerous ways. He often lent his beautiful tenor voice for weddings and funerals, and he enjoyed participating in community theatre. He arranged the podium flowers at College Church in Searcy for many years, and he loved to make wreaths, giving many as gifts, especially at Christmas time. Phil flipped houses before that was a “thing,” and his family lived through many renovations and moves in his quest to create homes that would bless everyone who entered.

Phil loved God and His people. He served as a deacon at Southside church in Rogers and at College Church. He was encouraging and generous and loved to deliver strawberries to anyone that he thought needed a friendly visit. He also served as a sponsor for Chi Sigma Alpha, a men’s social club at Harding, for over twenty years, which kept him young in spirit.

Phil passed into glory on January 11, 2024, and is survived by his wife, Ann, his children, Carrie Jones of NW Arkansas, Greg Dixon of Sacramento, CA, Matt Dixon (Valerie) of Spring Grove, PA, and Hannah (Sam) Wood of Searcy, AR. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Isaac Jones, Hayden Dixon, Hailey Dixon, and Peter Wood, who is expected in May. Also surviving him are his brother Lynn (Sally) Dixon of Florence, AL, and their three daughters, Sara (Kime) Landes and Keli (Jared) Mills of Florence, and Anna (Micah) Sullivan of Fairview, TN, and their families.

Services will be held on January 20, 2024, at College church of Christ in Searcy, AR. Visitation is at 10:00 a.m. with the service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Rudolph and Berniece Dixon Scholarship at Harding University.