Robert William ‘Bill’ Dickerson Sr., 92, died Thursday, Dec. 15.

He was born in Eureka. He spent his early years in northern California and from 1930 to 1941, lived on the historic Del Mar Ranch, which would eventually be developed into the Sonoma County community called Sea Ranch.

Mr. Dickerson was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corp from 1942 to 1946.

In 1946, he married Gilda Chiarini. Upon the completion of his military service, he moved to Oakdale where he remained for the rest of his life. He was a livestock rancher and, for many years was one of the more prominent sheep ranchers in California, running as many as 20,000 head of sheep on various ranches in the Oakdale and Turlock areas. During this time, he was involved with many organizations and served as an officer in the California Woolgrowers Association.

He loved his family, his friends, good food, good wine, baseball, and was a connoisseur of the well-told joke.

He is survived by his companion, Clara Kusatake; children, Glenda Dickerson, Robert (Debra) Dickerson, Brett (Diane) Dickerson; sister, Katherine Smith; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gilda; parents, William and Elva Dickerson; and brothers, Gerald and Marshall Dickerson.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7 at Oakdale Memorial Chapel, 830 West F St., Oakdale.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in his memory to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, Hughson.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

Dec. 28, 2011