Listen to this article
Bill and Mary Dickinson first met as youngsters at the corps in Walla Walla, Wash., and dated while in high school. Bill then joined the Navy, serving for four years. In 1961 they married and were blessed with three children: Kathy, Bill Jr. and Mike.
After the Navy, Bill worked three years as a surveyor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and had a night job at a pizza parlor. This led to opening their first pizza restaurant in 1971. They quickly became partners in several other restaurants in the franchise, as well as a fine dining establishment on the Seattle Waterfront. During these years they had moved away from The Salvation Army.
In 1979 they opened another restaurant in Spokane, Wash., and were re-introduced to the Army by then Captain Bill Nottle. In 1984 they sold out all their restaurant interests and went to work for the Spokane Corps: he as business administrator and she in the thrift store. They soon entered into full-time ministry as auxiliary captains and in 1990 were commissioned as captains.
Bill and Mary ministered as corps officers in Lewiston, Idaho, Kelso, Wash., and Seattle Temple, as well as the Eureka and Auburn corps in California. Their ministry also included serving as the directors of social services in Seattle King County and as city coordinator and director of special services in Tucson, Ariz.
Our blessings follow the Dickinsons as they enjoy retirement with their children and ten grandchildren.