Otto W. Dickey, Jr., otherwise publicly known as Von Otto, 66, of Waco, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2020 after a fierce battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones.
Service Information:
A celebration of Von’s life will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 1, at Lake Shore Funeral Home. (Mandated seating capacity is 60 people with social distancing) The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The family invites those who are unable to attend to live stream the
service Click Here to View the Live Stream
Von joined the United States Air Force in 1973 for photography but was redirected to school as a weapons mechanic on AC-130 Gunships. He was later assigned to Iceland where he worked on F-4’s. His Air Force career ended in 1977 when he started his career as an Airbrush Artist. Von was an avid artist and lover of all things expressionist. Von honored many military service members with personal awards, painted the War Fighters flight helmets and tanker helmets. His God-given artist talents graced cars, motorcycles, fire hydrants, Kitchen– Aide mixers, guns, knives, and everything imaginable! His art lives on at the Waco Cameron Park Zoo, the Smithsonian museum and many other works of art. He was a humble, gentleman with a heart of gold. His paintings all have a piece of him and his love for what he did, alive and well within them.
Von was preceded in death by his father, Otto W. Dickey, Sr.; mother, Mable Ida Hinote; and nephew, Aubrey Williams.
He is survived by his son, Nathan (Rocket) Dickey; granddaughter, Allinson Dickey; girlfriend, Dale Evans Lawson; sisters, Elaine Dickey Isler and and Maylea Dickey (who passed away four days after Von); nieces, Leila Ladnier and Lana Siebert; and many friends that were both brothers and sisters to Von.
Honorary pallbearers will be Nate “Rocket” Dickey, Jack Ricks, III, Charlie Farrar, Carl Kegley, Mike Cotter, Dave Hendrix, Gordon Robinson, Greg Fore, Daniel Stewart, Johnny Binder, and Don Franklin.
The family would like to thank Tiffaney Ricks, Annett Hendrix, Angela Kegley, Daniel Stewart, Kim Lucien, Preston Stephens, Riesel Lions Club and many others too many to list, for their love and care of Von in his time of need.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Von Otto to Community Hospice of Texas, 6700 Sanger Ave, Waco, TX 76710.
Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.LakeShoreFH.com.
Place of Service: ,
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Sorry for your loss….he was a good friend and i will miss him.
You will be missed
Von, you were truly one of a kind. I miss your laugh. I miss watching you bring your creations to life. Most of all I miss the conversations we have had over the years. Your wisdom wasn’t based in a book, but by life lessons. You were one of the smartest people who ever graced God’s great earth. I know that heaven will be much more colorful with you in it. Rest Easy my brother
I new him as Woody from our time at Theodore High School he was a good ole boy. He’ll surely be missed. Heck he was way to young🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🎨🖌️ R.I.P.
Your old friend “TJ”
My husband, Jimmie Bethke, and myself send condolences to Von’s family and friends. He was a great air brush artist but an even greater person. He was one of the kindest man with a hugh heart. He will be missed and the world is less beautiful without him in it. Many prayers 🙏
Me and Woody went to School together. He was a good friend I ran into him in the Mall
the night he got his first air brush. He will be missed.
RIP Bro
Jimmy Broadhead
I’m so sorry for the loss and the Heartbreak everyone is going through, thoughts and prayers are with all of yall. I feel very blessed and grateful to learn about him and be able to help him as his nurse at the end of his battle. His talent for art was completely amazing. I’m looking forward to a trip to the Waco zoo so I can see his artwork up close. I’ve seen these pictures for many years but never really knew the man behind the amazing work. Thank you all for allowing me and my team with Community Healthcare of Texas, Providence hospice to be a part of this journey.
Karen Bloomer RN Case Manager🕊
Community Health Care of Texas AKA Providence hospice
I never met Von, but had a close Friend that had a Harley Davidson Motorcycle that Von had to change the Female’s hair color several tines by repainting it on the gas tank!! My friend owned a Used Car Lot on Franklin Avenue. He bought/traded for a used Harley Davidson Motorcycle, and the female’s hair color was painted brown on both sides of the gas tank!! But my friend’s Girlfriend had blonde hair!! So the tank was removed, then sent to Von Otto’s place of business out I 35 close to Elm Mott, and repainted!! Then my Friend sold the Harley Davidson, and the man that bought it, his wife had blond hair!! So, one more removal, and sent to on, for hair color change!!And Von sure was enjoying the female’s different color hair change!! And i have a Grand son, great artist, but I tried several times to get him to try doing this!! Even bought him a new Airbrush Kit for Christmas!! But, he did not catch on, so he sold the Airbrush Kit!! And I have a second Cousin, that is single, has his own R V, (a big Motorhome)and tours the United States and parts of Canada, making All kinds of vehicle/motorcycle Shows doing Airbrush work!! His Parents live in Brownwood, Texas, which serves as home base!! He is about 50 years old, single, and loving every minute of his life!! I am very sorry that Von Otto had to come down to the end of his great life, and have the terrible disease of cancer to get him!! Thoughts/Condolences/Prayers to his Family and close Friends!! May GOD be with ‘each’ of you !! And may Von Otto continue to live on because of his close friends and great work that he loved so much!! GOD bless ‘all’ of you!! Rest-In-Peace Von!! You are still alive in these Family and Friends hearts and memories!!
I’m so sorry to hear about Von. He was very special and did amazing artwork. I will miss him dearly.
God Bless my friend. We went on some great rides together and had some long lengthy talks. I will miss you forever. See you in heaven. I love you. ❤️🙏