John B. Dixon

John B. Dixon, 81, of Bedford, NH, died December 22, 2005, at Hillsborough County Nursing Home. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 13, 1924, and was the son of James H. and Beatrice (Page) Dixon, and had been a resident of Bedford. John lived his youth in Nutly, NJ and Newport, NH. He graduated from Towle High School in Newport, NH. He worked as a clerk and auditor for the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company in NY and NH. He married his wife, Janet on July 2, 1949. Mr. Dixon opened his first Super Duper Market in Claremont, NH in 1955. He founded one of the first Convenience Store Companies in NH (Jiffy Marts) in 1968. He became Executive Director and then President of NH Retail Grocers in 1972. He retired from NH Retail Grocers in 1985. John founded NH Food Industry Credit Union, was Past Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Retail Grocers of the US, Past Chairman of the Board of the NH Retail Grocers Association, Past Chairman of the Board of the Claremont General Hospital, Director, Claremont Chamber of Commerce, President NARGUS Asparagus Club, Citizen of the Year, Claremont, NH in 1965, Grocer of the Year, State of NH, in 1961, President of Towle High School Alumni Association, Member 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and member (Hon) Shugah River Shriners, Masonic Lodge. Family members include his wife of 56 years, Janet (Henault) Dixon of Bedford, a son, J. Barry Dixon and his wife, Rebecca of Meredith, NH, two daughters: Mrs. Thomas (Mary Ann) Estabrook of Bedford, NH and Mrs. John (Cathy) Anthony of West Brook, Maine, six grandchildren, one great grandson, two brothers; Thomas Dixon of Goshen, NH and Barry Dixon of Newport, NH, several nieces and nephews and a cousin, Catherine Evans of Georgetown, Texas. SERVICES: There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Mr. Dixon, in St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Bedford, NH on Tuesday morning at 10 O'Clock. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemtery, Newport, NH on Tuesday afternoon at 2 O'Clock. Donations may be made in his memory to the NH Retail Grocers Association Scholarship Fund, 110 Stark Street, Manchester, NH 03104 or the the Alzheimers Association, 10 Ferry Street, Suite 419, Concord, NH 03301. The Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, is in charge of arrangements. To view an on-line memorial go to www.phaneuf.net