Franklin Roosevelt Dillon (‘Rose’)

Franklin Roosevelt Dillon (“Rose”), 88, of Rocky Mount, VA passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 6, 2022 with his daughter by his side. He was one of 13 children born to Ben Reed and Clora Emma Dillon. He was preceded in death by his wife Exie, his parents and several of his siblings. 

He is survived by his daughter Delores (“Dee Dee”) Singleton, and his son Ricky Dillon both of Rocky Mount, three grandchildren; Jamey Singleton, Kimberly (Georg) Kaufmann, Brandy (J.C.) Hodges, five great grandchildren; Tyler and Alex Kaufmann, Abbi Cooper, McKenzie and Skyler Oakes, his brother Fulton Dillon, sisters Geraldine Sigmon, Corinne Landrum, and Clora Bates, and special family members Johnny Singleton and Tammy Dillon along with numerous nieces and nephews. 

He worked sixteen hour days plowing fields with horses and mules, growing tobacco and wheat and vegetables. He worked to help put food on the table “because we had to” and carried a strong work ethic with him throughout his life. 

He left his parents at the age of 21 when he met the love of his life, Exie Harrison Dillon. He only had a dime in his pocket, but he had a full heart.   The two of them were married and started a family in the Doe Run area of Rocky Mount. Rose worked numerous jobs to support his family, including years at the Lane furniture company and spent many years logging with his son Ricky. He spent long days on the sides of the steep mountains of Snow Creek and Ferrum cutting timber and busting logs by hand. 

Never did a winter go by without Rose making sure his family had enough wood and heat to last them through the cold months. He was rarely seen without his trademark bib overalls. 

Rose enjoyed being around people and enjoyed joking around with friends, neighbors and family. He enjoyed listening to old fashioned bluegrass and gospel and watching old western TV shows. After his wife Exie passed suddenly in 2000, he adjusted his routine, which often included visiting his son and daughter and grandkids when they were in town with his great grandkids.  He loved his breakfast from Bojangle’s in Rocky Mount, where employees knew him as a regular. 

Rose was a sweet man who lived a simple life. He was a member of Rocky Mount Church of the Brethren and enjoyed reading his devotional every day. He made the decision to let the Lord take him when his time was near. Thankfully, God gave him three weeks to say goodbye to his loved ones and spend some time telling jokes and enjoying their company. 

On his last day alive, the message in the devotional was about living a life beyond this earth in Heaven with the Lord. He passed shortly after hearing the message read by his daughter by his side. 

The family would like to thank Dr. Steven Lewis and Dr. Tiffany Powell of Smith Mountain Lake Family Practice in Moneta for treating him over the years, the staff at Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department, the caring nurses and practitioners at Franklin Health and Rehab, Good Samaritan Hospice, and Pastor John Collins for their loving care recently. 

The family will hold a visitation at Flora Funeral Service on South Main Street in Rocky Mount from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, February 10, 2022. A graveside service will follow at Mountain View Memorial Park at 5970 Grassy Hill Road at 2 p.m. Thursday with Pastor John Collins officiating.