White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Virgil Volney Dilts, known by most as Cricket Dilts, formerly of Independence, Iowa,  passed from this life on January 27, 2013, in Peoria, Arizona.  He was 88 years old.

Cricket was born on December 30, 1924, near Hazelton, Iowa, where his family lived on property now known as Fontana Park.  The family continued to reside in and around Independence.  Cricket attended the old Independence High School, finishing as a member of the Class of 1943.  He frequently reminisced about the old school building.

On July 22, 1948, Cricket and the former Mary Jane Mazur were united in marriage in St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence.  Cricket was employed in the auto body and fender business, eventually opening his own shop, Cricket’s Body Shop, which he operated until his retirement.  His work was his hobby.

In retirement he pursued the interests of golfing and the design and construction of quality wood furniture.  Cricket and Mary Jane relocated to Peoria, Arizona, in 2004.

Cricket is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Jane; 2 sons, David Dilts of Johnston, Iowa; and Thomas (Mary) Dilts of Altoona, Iowa; 1 daughter, Dawn (David) Wilson of Peoria, Arizona; 2 grandchildren, Benjamin (Andrea) Wilson and Janine Wilson Pascua, both of Peoria, Arizona; and five great grandchildren Mykaela Wilson, Skout Wilson, Aiden Wilson, Kalani Pascua and Keilana Pascua.  Also surviving are his brothers, Homer Dilts, Lloyd Dilts, and Lane Dilts and his sister, Lila Harmon.

Cricket was preceded in death by his parents, Vern and Gladys (Cornwell) Dilts, and two half-sisters, Verna (Clarence) Schaeffer and Ella Marjorie (John) Sondrol.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence, Iowa.  Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8^th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.  The family asks that any memorial donations be provided to Hospice of Arizona, 12740 North Plaza del Rio Boulevard, Peoria, Arizona 85381.

White Funeral Home of Independence is in charge of arrangements.