Willena Margaret Dixon

Willena was born on January 21, 1918 to Will and Verna (Leftridge) Anderson in Moberly, Missouri. She grew up on a family farm and at age 17 came to California, where her mother’s family lived, after her father died in a farming accident. In 1936 she married Sterling Unruhand had two children; after they divorced she married Donald Dixon in 1947 and had two boys. This very happy family lived in Huntington Park and Downey; they all enjoyed week ends and vacations at their second home in Canyon Lake. After retirement Willie and Don moved to Laguna Woods Village in 2003. She was a housewife who worked a short time in the See’s Candy factory (during WWII) and Don was an insurance broker (after the war). They had attended Downey First Baptist Church and Canyon Lake Community Church. Willena began writing poetry in the 1970’s and had self-published a book of many selections. The poetry was mostly based on Bible verses, but there were some for special occasions. She passed away quietly at Casa de Harkness, a group home in Palm Desert, on May 14. She had played dominoes (her passion) two days before with friends! “Grandma Willie” as she was called affectionately by all her knew her, is survived by her daughter, Donna Unruh Reifschneider (Rob) of Palm Desert and Payson, Arizona; her son, Robert Darrel Dixon (Suzi) of Huntington Beach; eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Darrel Dixon and two sons, Richard Sterling Unruh and Terry Bennett Dixon.

Willena will be remembered by the family and her many friends as a strong Christian woman with a positive attitude. She was a wonderful, forgiving mother and homemaker and now she is with her soulmate, to whom she was married 56 years, in heaven.