Ronald N. Dixon

Ronald Neill Dixon, 85, was born on a Good Friday in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He earned a fine arts degree from the Belfast College of Art, emigrated to the United States at the age of 24 and built a career in stained glass and the ecclesiastical arts. He worked for Hopcroft Studio, and then freelanced with the Willett, Winebarger, and Pickel Studios over the years. Since 1991, his talent has been offered exclusively through the eponymous Dixon Studio, located in Staunton, Virginia since 2001.

A prolific designer, fine artist, and craftsman, he leaves a legacy of stained glass, mosaics, statuary, and furnishings in hundreds of churches across the country. His work has been recognized by the Interfaith Forum on Religion Art & Architecture, the Stained Glass Association of America, and the Catholic Art Institute.

A true polymath, capable in multiple disciplines, his career went off on a variety of tangents, including technical design and print production positions at Hallmark Corporation, playing accordion in a Greek restaurant, and opening his own fine dining establishment. Avocations included starting to restore old Jaguars but never finishing, playing a variety of musical instruments, and sitting by one of six fireplaces at his historic home in Staunton.

He is survived by Annie, his wife of 36 years, who managed to keep his professional talents focused on the liturgical arts. She was his steady partner in marriage, business, and the visual arts, and later his constant caregiver and the insurance provider’s torment during his illness.

He leaves two daughters, Moyanne (Jay) and Shauna (Rachel), two grandchildren, Kealie and Jeremy, and three great-grandchildren, all of Lynchburg. He is also survived by brothers, David of England and Ken (Barbara), of Northern Ireland, dear cousin Norman and the rest of the tribe in Northern Ireland, and cousins Skip (Joanie) and Leigh Ann (Dennis) of Virginia and Linda (Kevin) of Florida.

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, Davey and Jean, cousins Joan, Sam, and Miriam, all of Northern Ireland, American cousins Emily of Reston and Woody of Staunton, and sister-in-law Gwen of England.

Living with aHUS for the past ten years, Ronald recognized the brilliance and dedication of Dr. Tushar Chopra and Dr. Nicholas Paphitis in diagnosing this rare disease, saving his life, and maintaining his quality of life far beyond the initial prognosis and well into his recent bout with ‘a wee touch of the cancer.’ The family would like to acknowledge the skill and care of all his medical team through the years –with the exception of that one eejit who tried to convince his wife to put him in a nursing home.

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Monday, June 29, at 11am at St. Francis Catholic Church in Staunton Virginia, with Most Rev. Barry Knestout, Bishop of Richmond, presiding. 

Interment at Thornrose Cemetery will follow, with a reception at Assisi Hall afterwards.

Pallbearers are Jay Harding, Skip Dawson, Phil Rodriguez, Todd Hinkle, Tom Twark, and Matt Robertson. This eclectic group represents the family, friends, craftsmen and installers, who did the heavy lifting behind the scenes to create enduring works of art and to support this artist’s beautiful life.

Tribute flowers may be sent to anyone you like in a random act of senseless beauty. Charitable contributions in Ronald’s memory would be welcomed at the Health Equipment Loan Program in Churchville, Virginia (medicalcloset.org) or the Catholic Art Institute (catholicartinstitute.org).