Gregory Allen Dillon

In 2021, Gregory Allen Dillon wrote a memoir. Reading this with him days before his passing, we found a quote about his lifelong fascination with flight. “To be in a thermal and gaining altitude or flying along an updraft ridge with complete silence except for small wind noises is an amazing experience,” he wrote. It comforts us to know that his beautiful and generous soul has taken flight and revels in this peace.

Greg passed at dawn on May 1, 2025, as the birds began singing. He was born on February 23, 1937 to Ford Leroy Dillon, a pharmacist, and Ina Lorraine Gregory Dillon, an artist and sculptor. Greg was the oldest of two sons and was predeceased by his younger brother David.

Greg had many fascinating tales from his youth, including walking away from a light airplane crash, which did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm for flight. His mother fostered his artistic talents and he enjoyed crafting models of cars, boats and planes, eventually taking these design skills to the University of Colorado where he earned an architecture degree. Palisade High School, the Mesa County Justice Center, and the Bank of Colorado are just three of the many buildings designed by Greg in the Grand Valley.

Fly fishing was a Dillon family pursuit and Greg recalled many enjoyable days fishing with his parents and tying flies with his mother. The family had a cabin near the town of Stoner where Greg learned to ski. He became a ski instructor at Powderhorn and fondly recalled teaching his children, Kristen and Brant, to ski.

A natural athlete, Greg played high school football and basketball, pursuing track and field into college, where his long jump mark of 22’ stood as the Air Force Academy track record for two years. He was also class president at Cortez High School.

Greg met the love of his life Carole Jean Wilson in Kindergarten and they began dating at age 12. Together they went on to the University of Colorado and remained true to their alma mater. ‘Sko Buffs! Greg and Jean were married in 1959 and moved to Grand Junction in 1965. They loved the Grand Valley and became happily involved in their community.

Greg’s family often joked that his passions changed every ten years. Dogsledding and downhill skiing were followed by tennis and Nordic skiing. Kayaking and cycling entered the rotation, and eventually golf and gardening found their places. Throughout it all, flyfishing and music remained constant. Greg played the trumpet, guitar, piano and built and played traditional wooden flutes. For many years he played flute above the canyons of Colorado National Monument, a landscape he loved.

Greg’s biggest passion was for his family: Jean, who passed in 2022, Brant and Heather Dillon, and their daughters Alex and Brenna, and Kristen and James Lummis, their sons, Asher and Ian, and Ian’s fiancee, MacKennea. Greg delighted in spending time with us and we believe he was the world’s best father and grandfather.

While we miss him dearly and always will, we find peace knowing that he is gliding on a thermal alongside each of us, every day.

A celebration of life will be held in June. If you would like details, please contact a family member. Donations in Greg’s memory may be made to Christian Living Communities/Cappella of Grand Junction, HopeWest, and the Colorado National Monument Association.