Robert "Bob" Dixon

Robert “Bob” Dixon, the colorful proprietor of Village Vitamins, died on February 8, 2010 from complications stemming from a recent stroke. He was 86 years old.

Bob was born in1923 in Long Beach, California to Charles Dixon and Jane Roper. Following the death of his mother at age four and at the beginning of the Great Depression, his family lived in Southern California before moving to the dusty oil town of Avenal in the San Joaquin Valley. Bob was the oldest of four sons raised by his father and stepmother, Gwen Stoutenburg. Throughout his school years, Bob stood out as a talented athlete and excelled in track, setting several school records in high school that remained unbroken for over 60 years.

Bob served in the United States Army during World War II where he was stationed in the Philippine Islands and Japan. He was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star for gallantry in action and was a Purple Heart recipient.

Following WWII, Bob returned to Avenal and married RosaLee Altimus. Together, they raised three children in the Orange County town of La Habra before RosaLee died tragically in a car accident.

Bob married his second sweetheart Gae in 1969 who also had three children from a previous marriage. Together, they raised their “Brady Bunch” family in La Habra where Bob started his own landscaping business.

In 1977, Bob and Gae moved to Grants Pass where they opened Village Vitamins. For 30 years, Bob was an early pioneer and educator to the local community interested in vitamins, minerals and preventative health care. Village Vitamins remained open until Bob retired in 2008.

Aside from his passion for helping people with his extensive knowledge about health and well being, Bob was proud of his longstanding association with the Freemasons, loved landscaping and gardening, was an avid card player, enjoyed music and dancing, and above all, relished time with his family.

A private memorial service will be held in California.

Bob is survived by his wife Gae of 40 years, brother Tommy Dixon, his six children Janie Kissel, Doug Dixon, Wally Dixon, Linda Flashman, Burton Adams, John Adams, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was loved and will be missed by all.