Ernest Fountain Dilday, III, known to friends as Ernie and to family as Skipper (Daddy was Navy!) passed from this life on Saturday, March 12, 2022 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Ernie was born in Georgia to Ernest F. Dilday, Jr., and Ellen Frances Brown Dilday on January 31, 1951. He went to school at Lee High School and left in 1971 to join the Marines to serve his country in Viet Nam, obtaining his GED in the middle of the ocean.
Ernie did a variety of jobs in his life and, being a perfectionist with OCD, he did them well including barbering, bartending, truck driving, painting, wallpapering, and construction. He loved, and was extremely loved by, all animals, especially dogs.
Ernie is preceded in death by his parents, his oldest sister Lee D. Wiles, his brother-in-law Frederick W. Wiles, his nephew Brian C. Wiles, both sets of grandparents Millard and Mary Ellen Brown and Ernest F., Sr. and Laura Dilday and all aunts and uncles excepting Aunt Shirley Brown.
Left to mourn and miss him are his sisters Laura D. Washington (John), Kay D. Johnson (Larry), nieces Rachel W. Bradford (Wes), Marie E. Dilday, LeAnn F. Nordstrom (Scott), Louise J. Hastie, and nephew Lucas K. Johnson. Added to this is a large pack of great nieces, great nephews, many, many cousins, and friends from all walks of life.
‘…And miles to go before I sleep.’-Robert Frost.
Sleep well, Ernie, we love you.
