Delbert Roger Dickson, M.D., originally from The Dalles, Oregon died
June 1, 2008 at his Underwood, Washington residence with family by his
side. He was 85 years of age and passed away after a long battle with
systemic amyloidosis.

A celebration of his life was held on Sunday, June 8, 2008 in
Underwood, Washington. A tribute to Dr. Dickson will be held August 2,
2008 at 4:00 pm at the Santa Barbara Club in Santa Barbara,
California. Graveside rites will be held privately at the Santa
Barbara Cemetery. Please call 805-696-6400 for more information.

Del, Dr. D, Boss, the Good Doc, or DRD as he was affectionately known
to many, was born to George Delbert and Montine (Young) Dickson on
December 16, 1922 in Long Beach, California. They returned to the
family's Oregon homestead when he was a young child. His youth was
spent living on Eight Mile Creek, in Dufur, in Snowden, and eventually
in The Dalles, Oregon. He graduated from The Dalles High School in
1940 with a very special group of classmates who have remained friends
through the years.

Del continued his education and received his bachelor's degree from
the University of Oregon in Eugene, and as anyone would tell you, he
was a lifelong Ducks fan. He attended medical school at the University
of Oregon Medical School in Portland (now OHSU) with the class of
1946.

After earning his MD degree, Del proudly served his country as a
lieutenant in the United States Navy Medical Corps where he completed
a two-year internship at Aeia Heights Hospital at Pearl Harbor. He did
his first year residency at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, and
then received orders to report to the USS General William Mitchell. He
completed his military service in 1950.

On July 1, 1950 Del began his second year residency in Pathology at
Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California and he fell in love with
the area. His final year of residency was spent at Sawtelle Veterans
Hospital in Los Angeles, California. He then returned to Santa Barbara
and Cottage Hospital for the rest of his (practicing) life.

Dr. Dickson was the preeminent pathologist in Santa Barbara for many
years. He was Medical Director of the Laboratory at Santa Barbara
Cottage Hospital for 45 years and also at the Santa Barbara County
General Hospital until its closure.

One of Del's goals was to ensure quality outpatient laboratory service
for Santa Barbara. In this endeavor, he joined with Dr. John P.
Blanchard in founding Blanchard-Dickson Laboratory (B-D Lab), which
operated in Santa Barbara for many years. He was later one of the
founding partners of Medical Group Pathology Laboratory, which is
still in existence today.

In addition to his responsibility as Laboratory Medical Director, Del
served on numerous governing and ad hoc committees of the Cottage
Hospital Medical Staff. He was instrumental in establishing the
Cottage Hospital Laboratory as the best in the city and one of the
outstanding laboratories in Southern California. He took great pride
in the expertise of the laboratory staff and in the quality of the lab
results.

Dr. Dickson was also instrumental in establishing the Cottage
Hospital School of Medical Technology for the training of Clinical
Laboratory Scientists, one of the few schools affiliated with a
community hospital. The graduates of this school have been, and
continue to be, vital in staffing of our community laboratories. Dr.
Dickson was proud of the graduates of the program, following
their careers and maintaining a mentoring relationship.

The Santa Barbara medical community is fortunate to have had the
guidance of a physician with exceptional foresight, dedication to
quality and love of his profession. His influence on the practice of
pathology and laboratory medicine will remain for many years.

Del met Phyllis Webster on a ski vacation at Mt. Hood while he was
attending medical school. They married in 1948 and were blessed with
four wonderful children - Pamela, Deborah, Daniel and Brian. Phyllis
and Delbert later divorced.

Del married his second wife, Sally Innes, and spent several memorable
years with her and her children, Carin and Greg Seim. Del and Sally
later divorced.

He met his future wife, Susan Wilson, in Santa Barbara where they were
lucky to have many happy years together. Upon his retirement in 1998,
Del and Susie moved to the Northwest and called Underwood, Washington
home. They enjoyed spending their time gardening and relaxing in the
beauty of the Columbia Gorge with the majesty of Mt. Hood and Mt.
Adams in the scenic backdrop. They were blessed five years ago with a
beautiful daughter, Keolani Rose.

Delbert's legacy will continue to live on through the lives of his
wife, Susie Dickson, and their daughter, Keolani Rose, at their home in
Underwood, Washington and his adult children and their spouses:
Pamela and Tom Howard of San Diego, California; Deborah and Gene
Archambault of Santa Barbara, California; Daniel and Karen Dickson of
Casper, California; Brian and Bettina Dickson of Napa, California;
their mother, Phyllis Dickson of Casper, California; grandchildren,
Whitney and Taylor Bell, Janell and Gwen Archambault, Kira and Tessa
Dickson, Leo and Archie Dickson; as well as his second wife, Sally
Dickson and her children, Carin and Greg Seim, and so many others
whose lives he touched.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother,
Kenneth G. Dickson (d. Feb 18, 1992) of Salem, Oregon.

Del Dickson was a very unique and special person. He was always the
tallest, strongest, smartest and most informed person in any
gathering. Everywhere he went, Del was the person that people sought
out for advice. People came to Del for all kinds of information and
they sought his opinion on a wide range of topics - from medicine to
gardening. Del worked hard for everything that he had but he was
extremely generous and willing to help others. He will be missed
profoundly but that twinkle in his eye will live forever in our hearts
and memories.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to The Mayo
Clinic of Hematology, Amyloidosis Research and in care of Anderson's
Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, OR 97031. Friends can
also sign the guest book for the family and leave tributes on their
website at www.andersonstributecenter.com.