William “Lonnie” Dillon, M.D., a pioneer orthopedic surgeon with Labette Health, passed away on Friday, July 23, 2021, at the age of 76.
Dillon is remembered by his family, friends, colleagues, and patients for his dedication to the people of southeast Kansas where he had a private practice in orthopedic medicine at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons, Kansas for over 40 years.
“Dr. Dillon served the patients of southeast Kansas with dignity, honor and an unmatched commitment to developing a nationally ranked orthopedic program, “Labette Health President and CEO Brian Williams said in an email to staff upon Dillon’s passing.
Dillon also practiced at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. He specialized in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.
Dillon’s Southeast Kansas Orthopedic Clinic earned national recognition for its expertise and ability to bring the latest techniques to the entire southeast Kansas region. One of his colleagues, Dr. Kevin Mosier told the Parsons Sun, “If it wasn’t for Dr. Dillon, there wouldn’t be orthopedic surgery care here in Parsons as we know it today. He brought advanced orthopedic care here and put Parsons on the map as a center of excellence for bone and joint surgery here in Southeast Kansas. He was just an incredible, skilled, talented surgeon.”
Dillon was born March 28, 1945, in Burr Oak, Kansas—a town of about 170 people near the Nebraska border and roughly 240 miles due west of Kansas City, Kansas—to Junelda and William Dillon. Dr. Dillon earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and then graduated in 1971 with a Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Kansas Medical School.
With a degree in medicine, Dr. Dillion moved from his beloved Kansas to, first, Biloxi, Mississippi and then Anchorage, Alaska, where he served two residencies. He then entered the U.S. Air Force and served as an orthopedic surgeon 1976 and 1980, earning the Meritorious Service Medal.
He married his wife Joanne on August 28, 1993. Dillon loved to travel the world with his wife meeting new friends. He also raised buffalo on his farm in Parsons.
He is survived by his three sons, two stepchildren, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He will be missed terribly. We salute Dr. Dillon, a life well-lived and patients well served.
