BLOOMINGTON – The Rev. Dr. Victor Eugene Dillman, 82, Bloomington, formerly of Arcola, Kewanee, and Charleston passed away Wednesday, December 26th at 11:10 a.m. at OSF St Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. Funeral services will be at Noon, Thursday Jan 3rd at the Bloomington First Church of the Nazarene and at Noon, Friday January 4th at Arcola First Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Jerry Clonch will officiate.
Burial will be at Arcola Cemetery in Arcola, IL with military rights accorded. Visitation will be from 10:30 – 12:00 prior to each service. The family suggests memorials be made to the Bloomington First Church of the Nazarene at 2207 N Towanda Barnes Road Bloomington, IL 61704.
He was born in Westfield (Clark County) Illinois on June 21, 1930, the youngest of eight children born to The Rev. Clifford K and Bertha May (Eickelberger) Dillman.
Surviving are his brother Dr. Beryl Dillman (Grace Hodges) of Bloomington, his sister Mary Dillman Gates of Fishers, IN, sisters-in-law Imogene Dillman of Charleston and Grace Dillman of Bloomington; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers Rev. Craig, Keith, Clem, and Newell; and one infant sister Ruth Evelyn.
Victor graduated from Arcola High School in 1948, received a B.S. from Olivet Nazarene University in 1967, received a Master's Degree in Social Work at the University of Illinois in 1971, and a PhD of Philosophy from International University ULC. Rev. Dillman has a lifetime Ministerial Ordination Credential, received on June 30, 1969.
Victor served four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Victor was a counselor, consultant, educator, social worker, a member of the clergy, and counseling therapist.
Victor was Commanding Officer of Salvation Army Corps in Kewanee and Momence for a total of five years. Victor founded the Youth for Christ, Inc. in three locations: Fairbanks, Alaska in 1953; Sedalia, Missouri in 1955; and Kankakee County in 1962.
Rev. Dillman pastored 7 United Methodist congregations in Vermillion and Fulton Counties in Illinois and was an interim preacher in Sedalia, MO Free Methodist Church. He has delivered many sermons and speeches and officiated at several weddings and funerals. Victor was visiting professor for 5 summers in Pasadena Graduate College and at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.
Victor was a social worker and counselor at Kewanee High School. He was employed for 25 years with Henry-Stark Counties Special Education. Dr. Dillman provided consultant services for 25 years for Peoria-based Petersen Health Care Long-term Homes situated throughout Illinois.
Victor was foster parent to 15 minors in Momence and Kewanee to help them through school and onto either college or vocational training. His foster children are: Hue, John, Don, Diane, Julia, Quang, Ruyen, Ngan, Robert, Michael, Tricia, Vi, Thuong, Hein, and Nghia.
For 8 years, Victor was President and Chairman of the Board for the Quad Counties Youth Services, a program to assist youth and family intervention. He served as a member of the Kewanee Drug and Alcohol Task Force. He also was CEO and President of the Henry County Youth Services Bureau, Inc.
Victor has worked on the Dillman genealogy going back as far as the 1600s. Victor's great great great grandpa Andrew Dillman was in the American Revolutionary War. Andrew and his wife Barbara Roush Dillman were buried in Sharon Cemetery in Chatham, Kentucky. The Dillman reunion convenes the second Saturday of July each year. It has been conducted in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Victor enjoyed gathering family and friends to re-connect and reminisce. Victor's love for God and people was very evident!