COLUMBUS — Mr. Robert Larry Dillard, 80, of Buena Vista, Ga., passed away on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at Kindred Hospice in Columbus, Ga.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, at Buena Vista First Baptist Church with the Rev. Chris Hess and Harold Grimsley officiating. The family greeted friends from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, at the funeral home.

 

Mr. Dillard was born May 26, 1937, in Buena Vista, Ga., to Robert Clyde and Lillie Wells Dillard. He was Baptist by faith and a member of Buena Vista First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. Mr. Dillard was a member of the Baptist Brotherhood and the Buena Vista Lions Club.  A graduate of Georgia Southwestern College, he was self-employed and was the owner and operator of Dillard’s Grocery in Buena Vista for almost 30 years. He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margie Dillard of Buena Vista, Ga.; by three daughters, Karen and Rex Mitchell and Carol and Gene Milton, all of Jasper, Fla., and Janet and Berry Teele of Ellaville, Ga.; by a sister, Evelyn and Ernest Hart of Buena Vista, Ga.; by brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Douglas and Ginger Taylor of Americus, Ga.; by grandchildren, Ryan and Elizabeth Mitchell, Patrick and Brigitte Mitchell, Gena and Julian Wynn, Justin and Lexi Milton, Lance and Vicki Teele, and Caleb and Jenni Teele; and by great-grandchildren, James Mitchell, Matthew Mitchell, Lane and Melody Wynn, Tuck Teele, Ellie Mae Teele, Rhett Teele, Jacey Teele and Colton Teele; and two on the way, Nolan Mitchell and Naomi Magnolia Milton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Buena Vista First Baptist Church or the Buena Vista Cemetery. Please visit www.watsontantefuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register for Mr. Dillard.

Watson-Tante Funeral Home of Buena Vista, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements.