Obituary of Ivyl Dean Erickson

Ivyl Dean Erickson was born March 29, 1934 in Stratford, Iowa, to Wilma and Roland Erickson, the youngest of two sons. He was a star pitcher during his high school years and joined the Marine Corp in 1954. After training at El Toro Marine Base he was stationed in Japan for eighteen months. During this time he worked in the base post office and felt proud that he could be sure his fellow marines received their mail. Returning to the U.S. he was stationed at Pt. Mugu and it was at this time that he decided to go by his middle name because California people were having trouble remembering his given name, Ivyl. While out driving his 1956 Chevy he found his way to Simi Valley and met his future wife, Mary Clifton. Three and one-half months later in February 1957 they were married in what was then the Methodist Church on Los Angeles Ave. In June when he was honorably discharged from the service they traveled back to Iowa. In 1959 while working in Des Moines, their son, Jeffrey, was born. Returning to Simi Valley in 1961 he began working at Rocketdyne and they bought their first home on Gloryette Ave. Their second child, Tracy, was then born, completing their family. Dean was a man of many talents; piloting in and out of the Santa Susana Airport, painting and driving stock cars at Saugus Raceway for George Raincock, scuba diving with his son and daughter and taking his boat out of Channel Islands on very successful and entertaining excursions… “Even a bad day is good if you’re fishing”. In the late 60’s be began working at Western Air Lines (which later became Delta Air Lines) and the traveling began. In 1975 during a temporary furlough from Western he bought AAA Appliance and began refinishing appliances. Returning back to Western, his wife took over the managing of AAA Appliance and son, Jeff, did the repair and refinishing. Dean and Mary were able to enjoy visiting several different countries and cruises at which time he entertained others with his jokes and stories. In 1977 they had a new home built while doing much of the work themselves as a family. Dean retired from Delta in 1995 and enjoyed the many friends that came to visit. He also enjoyed sharing jokes with his friends at the Moose Lodge each Tuesday. He lost a bit of his heart at the death of his son in 1999. Dean passed away January 11th leaving his wife, Mary, daughter, Tracy Bilchik (Richard), grandson Kyle and granddaughter, Kameron, grandsons, Steven and Ryan Erickson, many nieces and nephews and his special sister-in-law, Beverly Phillips who always made his Fridays extra special. He loved Nascar until his sight diminished but continued to enjoy his tequila, Budweiser and Word Scramble. The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to Simi Valley Adventist Hospital for the care and compassion shown to Dean and the entire family during this time, but especially to the nurses in Telemetry who are angels without wings. There are no services planned at this time.