Obituary for John Alvin Dickey
Former East Liverpool resident John A. Dickey passed away comfortably surrounded by family
Tuesday afternoon, May 2nd, 2023 at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. John had been
living in Rockford, IL for 24 years.
Born on December 16th, 1954, he was the son of Norine M. Dickey and Alvin M. Dickey. John
was a graduate from The Ohio State University class of 1977 where he graduated with a
bachelors in science of engineering. After graduating from Ohio State he started a TV repair
shop on Dresden Avenue in East Liverpool. He then taught an engineering class at East
Liverpool High School. From there he moved to Arizona where he married Linda K. Dickey on
December 27, 1981 on South Mountain. He then started working for Perry Flight Systems in
Arizona until they moved to Florida and he started working at Harris Corporation where he was
employed for approximately 10 years. While in Florida, he started a company called Spa Tron
where he designed one of the first digital controls for spas and hot tubs. John was an avid
inventor and engineer.
John moved to Rockford around 1999 where he started working for Hamilton Sundstrand as an
electrical engineer. Throughout John’s career in Rockford he worked on 15 major programs and
helped in numerous others. His colleagues considered him a “Greybeard” who they all looked
up to for answers to many difficult problems. John was always eager to help and played a key
role in guiding the future state of the product line, particularly in power switch and power
conversion technology. John was a gifted engineer and submitted over 40 patents which were in
addition to the numerous patents he was awarded outside of Collins Aerospace.
John and his wife, Linda, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a family trip in
Jackson, Wyoming in December of 2021. This trip was complete with the renewal of their vows
where John surprised Linda with a new wedding ring where he stated, “Now I am able to get
you the ring you should have had 40 years ago so I had this custom ring made for you for this
anniversary. I just wish you could have been wearing it all these years.” This trip brought many
memories that his family will never forget.
John is survived by his wife, Linda K. Dickey, and their two children: Neil Miller (and his wife
Neli) and Bobbi Miller. As well as six grandchildren: Nathan Miller, Kristopher Miller (and his wife Tianna), Kaytlin Petty (and her fiance Jacob), Erika Miller, Garrett Petty, and Wyatt Petty.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Norine and Alvin Dickey. As well as a brother and two
sisters who died during infancy.
John will be greatly missed by all of his friends, family, and coworkers.
Friends and family may visit at the Dawson Funeral Home on Friday May 12th where family will be present from 4pm until 8pm. John’s son, Neil, will be conducting a funeral service at Dawson Funeral Home on Saturday May 13th at 10am.
Tuesday afternoon, May 2nd, 2023 at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. John had been
living in Rockford, IL for 24 years.
Born on December 16th, 1954, he was the son of Norine M. Dickey and Alvin M. Dickey. John
was a graduate from The Ohio State University class of 1977 where he graduated with a
bachelors in science of engineering. After graduating from Ohio State he started a TV repair
shop on Dresden Avenue in East Liverpool. He then taught an engineering class at East
Liverpool High School. From there he moved to Arizona where he married Linda K. Dickey on
December 27, 1981 on South Mountain. He then started working for Perry Flight Systems in
Arizona until they moved to Florida and he started working at Harris Corporation where he was
employed for approximately 10 years. While in Florida, he started a company called Spa Tron
where he designed one of the first digital controls for spas and hot tubs. John was an avid
inventor and engineer.
John moved to Rockford around 1999 where he started working for Hamilton Sundstrand as an
electrical engineer. Throughout John’s career in Rockford he worked on 15 major programs and
helped in numerous others. His colleagues considered him a “Greybeard” who they all looked
up to for answers to many difficult problems. John was always eager to help and played a key
role in guiding the future state of the product line, particularly in power switch and power
conversion technology. John was a gifted engineer and submitted over 40 patents which were in
addition to the numerous patents he was awarded outside of Collins Aerospace.
John and his wife, Linda, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a family trip in
Jackson, Wyoming in December of 2021. This trip was complete with the renewal of their vows
where John surprised Linda with a new wedding ring where he stated, “Now I am able to get
you the ring you should have had 40 years ago so I had this custom ring made for you for this
anniversary. I just wish you could have been wearing it all these years.” This trip brought many
memories that his family will never forget.
John is survived by his wife, Linda K. Dickey, and their two children: Neil Miller (and his wife
Neli) and Bobbi Miller. As well as six grandchildren: Nathan Miller, Kristopher Miller (and his wife Tianna), Kaytlin Petty (and her fiance Jacob), Erika Miller, Garrett Petty, and Wyatt Petty.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Norine and Alvin Dickey. As well as a brother and two
sisters who died during infancy.
John will be greatly missed by all of his friends, family, and coworkers.
Friends and family may visit at the Dawson Funeral Home on Friday May 12th where family will be present from 4pm until 8pm. John’s son, Neil, will be conducting a funeral service at Dawson Funeral Home on Saturday May 13th at 10am.