Donald Dilks

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Don Edwin Dilks, 75, passed away peacefully in his sleep Monday morning, Sept. 21, 2009.        Funeral: 2:30 p.m. Thursday at College Hill Church of Christ, 7447 N. College Circle, North Richland Hills. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery.        Across the Red River on a red dirt farm in Cotton County, Okla., Don Dilks came into the world on May 11, 1934, to Eolie and Blanche Dilks. Ranking eighth of 11 children, he was surrounded with family and taught a strong work ethic that would serve him will during his life. At the age of 9, he began working at the local grocery store, driving the truck around town and delivering groceries. When he turned 14, he started working in the meat market and learned to cut meat.        After a knee injury, he left college and went to Fort Worth and started working at one of the old A.L. Davis grocery stores. During this time, he left, joined the Army and served his country in northern Germany at the height of the Cold War. Shortly after returning from Germany, he met the love of his life, Mary Woodard. After dating a year, they married and began a 48-year marriage that ended with the passing of his wife last year. Two children, Donna and Kelvin, were born to them.        Don went to work for Piggly Wiggly during the late 1960s. He rose to district meat manager in San Antonio and then he was promoted to head over the meat distribution plant. During this time, he met Ed Harris. Ed was a man who would change Don's life.        Ed offered Don a job running his store, The Butcher Shop on Mansfield Highway. After a year, Ed sold Don the store. For the next 32 years of his life, Don rarely missed a day of work. He became a part of the Stop Six/Dunbar/O.D. Wyatt community in Fort Worth. He was probably the only white man in Tarrant County who owned a "Don't Mess with Stop Six" T-shirt. He loved his customers and his employees, and they loved him. On more than one occasion, customers who moved out of town would come and have their pictures taken with him.        As one of the last old-time grocery men, Don worked almost every day of his life for 66 years. He was a great story teller, father, husband, grandfather, boss, employee and friend. After watching his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, Don peacefully died.        Survivors: Daughter, Donna Herndon and her husband, James; son, Kelvin Dilks; grandchildren, Wesley, Joshua, Tara and Michael; great-grandchildren, Jade and Cayden; brothers, Derrel, Merril, Otho and Charles; sisters, Doris, Anne and Judy; over 30 nieces and nephews; and his best friend, Roosevelt Connelly. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Donald Dilks please visit our Sympathy Store.