Justin Henry Dillier

Justin Henry Dillier peacefully passed away May 14, 2022.

Justin, the youngest of six children, was born to Matthias and Mary Dillier on July 12, 1922, in Scranton, Arkansas, and grew up in a Catholic Swiss/German farming community in Arkansas. At an early age he joined the U.S. Navy and served our country as a flight engineer in the Pacific Arena during World War II. After the war he returned home to Arkansas to farm. During this time he met Hallene Lang of Little Rock at a Catholic Youth Organization retreat, and they married in July, 1950. Some years later, their growing family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended Memphis State University and received his degree in biology with a focus in entomology.

Justin went on to join the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA where he served for more than twenty five years. His background as a farmer along with his entomology studies made him a respected field researcher who worked on a variety of programs which focused on burrowing nematodes, imported fire ants, gypsy moth infestation and lastly, the eradication of the cotton boll weevil. The crowning achievement of his career was directing all field operations for the full scale cotton boll weevil eradication trials in Virginia and North Carolina in the late 1970s and continuing with the program as it moved from trials to the full cotton boll weevil eradication program.

In the late 1980s he retired from his job at the USDA, and he and Hallene moved to Heber Springs, Arkansas. Throughout their life in Heber Springs, he served the community through his work at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church as well as at Cleburne County Cares. His family and grandchildren frequently visited them in Heber Springs where they spent time exploring the area and much time on Greers Ferry Lake, boating and swimming.

Eventually, they made the decision to leave Heber Springs and move into a retirement community in Jonesboro. This move placed them close to their son, John and his wife, Kim, who tirelessly cared for them and their needs. During Covid-19, Justin, Hallene (and John) made the decision to move out of the retirement community and back into a place of their own; a move they entirely enjoyed as it offered them the freedom of independent living.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Hallene as well as his children Steve (Sue) Dillier, James (Doreen) Dillier, and John (Kim) Dillier; and six grandchildren: Josh (Carla) Dillier, Sarah (Jeff) Ellis, Joe (Melissa) Dillier, Justin Dillier, Luke (Anna) Dillier and Catherine Dillier as well as six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Justin Mark Dillier.

Justin was a man of strong faith, and he taught by example the importance of faith, family, hard work and doing what is right. He was a man of compassion who faced the challenges of life with admirable strength and courage. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

The Rosary and funeral Mass will be offered Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Jonesboro, AR, at 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM, respectively.

Interment will be at 12:30 PM on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 21 Park Road, Heber Springs, AR  72543.