John Humbert Dixon, 54, of Lexington Park, MD formerly of Manchester, GA, died January 4, 2007. He had been missing since December 1, 2006, after checking on his sailboat at the West Basin Marina on the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

John was born February 27, 1952, son of Virginia Doughty Dixon and the late George Matthew Dixon. He proudly served his country in the US Navy from 1972-1993 and the Fleet Reserve from 1993-2002. After retiring from the Navy, John was employed by St. Mary's Public Schools, working at Carver Elementary, Ridge Elementary and Spring Ridge Middle School. He was later employed by Tracor, where he assisted the Chilean Navy with the development of their P3 anti-submarine aircraft program. He was recently employed by Verizon, providing technical support for their DSL program.

John loved living in St. Mary's County; he loved the area, the bay and the people. Consequently, he was active in many community organizations over the last 16 years. He was chairman of the St. Mary's Public Schools Budget Advisory Committee from 1998-1999 and was active in the PTA at Lexington Park Elementary School, Spring Ridge Middle School and Great Mills High School. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 413 and several Girl Scout troops. He had attended the United Methodist Church and later the Protestant side of St. Nicholas Chapel. John was an avid sailor and a member of the Navy Patuxent Sailing Club. His plans were to help restore one of the boats and teach sailing.

John is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Dianne; his son, John H. Dixon, Jr.; his daughter Dianne Elizabeth "Beth" Dixon; his daughter Jennifer Lee Dixon; his daughter Laura Danielle Dixon; his mother Harriett Virginia "Virginia" Dixon of Griffin, Georgia, formerly of Manchester, Georgia; his brother George Matthew Dixon, Jr. of Carrollton, Georgia; and his sister Harriett Virginia Dixon Cook of Griffin, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his father, George Matthew Dixon and his infant brother, Phillip Eugene Dixon.

John was a loving husband, father, and friend to many, he will be sadly missed by all who knew him and loved him.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 6:30 PM at the St. Nicholas Chapel at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Friends wishing to attend the memorial are asked to show a photo ID at Gate 2 on NAS Patuxent River.

In Georgia, A Celebration of Life will be held in Savannah, Georgia on Saturday, January 20, 2007 at 1:00pm at the Grace United Methodist Church at 6412 Waters Avenue. Burial will follow in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Navy Patuxent Sailing Club (John Dixon), PO Box 2202, Patuxent River, MD 20670-0802.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.