Carolyn Dillon Obituary

Carolyn Anne Dillon, aged 93, died at home on July 20, 2025.

She was born on January 6, 1932, in Wichita Kansas, to Dale and Helen Critser. She graduated from Wichita East High School, and then studied at the University of Kansas, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

On May 3, 1952, she married Dick Dillon and moved to Hutchinson, where she lived for the remainder of her life. They were married for over 50 years before Dick's passing in 2002.

In her younger years she was an avid tennis player, winning the city mixed doubles title with her tennis partner Lynn Harris. Her strategy for winning was to play the net and let her partner cover the rest of the court, and it worked.

Carolyn and Dick had three sons, each of whom earned his Eagle Scout award through Troop 1, due largely to Carolyn's support, encouragement and perseverance.

She was an excellent bridge player, playing in tournaments all over the country with her partner Ruth Dillon, and they both earned their Life Master designation for duplicate bridge.

Carolyn was an accomplished amateur potter, throwing, glazing and firing her works in her own gas kiln for over 40 years. She was involved in the arts for decades, serving on the Mid- America Arts Alliance board of directors for twenty years, the Wichita Grand Opera board for eleven years, the Kansas Arts Commission for four years, and the Advisory Board to the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

She served for six years on the Friends of Cedar Crest board of directors, a group tasked with raising money for the maintenance and upkeep of the Governor's Mansion in Topeka. While on that board, she oversaw a major renovation and redecoration of the residence.

Carolyn was active locally in the Living Land Foundation, helping to create and oversee the Dillon Nature Center, and also served on the board of the Dillon Lecture Series, bringing in guest speakers from all over the country. She worked with both groups for over 30 years.

She was fortunate to have Dr. Bob Shears in her life for a period of years after both of their spouses had passed. She treasured his company during those years, and Bob became an important member of the family. Bob passed in 2019.

She was well known for writing humorous adaptations of popular songs in collaboration with her good friend Peter MacDonald, former editor of the Hutchinson News, to celebrate friends' house warmings, anniversaries and birthdays. Peter penned the lyrics, and Carolyn played the piano and was the song leader, demanding that all present join in the singing. She was rarely refused.

Carolyn is survived by her sons Brad and his wife Tammy, Reed and his wife Stacey and Steve and his wife Angel, together with Tammy's children Haley and her husband Marc, Austin and his wife Sara, Reed and Stacey's children Grayson and his wife Kaylin, Gabrielle and her husband Dylan, and Steve's children Chad and his wife Kathleen, Joe, Mark and his partner Mandi, and Angel's children Eugene and his wife Risa and Whitney and her partner Mike. Carolyn is also survived by her 8 great grandchildren, Piper and Presley Strebler, Quinn Dillon, Christopher and Alex Dillon, Bentley Dillon, Kash Dillon, and Jaythan Fuller.

Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, 201 E. Sherman, Hutchinson, with the Reverend Christine Kass officiating. Friends may sign her book Tuesday and Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials can be sent to the Dillon Lecture Series or the Dillon Nature Center, both in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.