Mrs. Ida Rose Bruton Dillon

Mrs. Ida Rose Bruton Dillon, 90, a firecracker of a lady with overflowing generosity and love for her family, passed away peacefully August 1, 2024, in Winston-Salem, N.C. Ida Rose brought great passion, purpose and positivity to everything she did, from teaching music in the public schools to becoming one of the top real estate agents in the Carolinas. She was a caring and supportive wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to many. Born in Hamlet, N.C., to David Uriah Bruton and Rose Haywood Bruton, Ida Rose found immeasurable joy in growing up in a small railroad town, making friends easily, excelling in school, and discovering the magic of music. After earning a music degree from Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C., she taught in the Thomasville, N.C., and High Point, N.C., school systems and served as choir director at First Presbyterian Church in Thomasville and First Methodist Church in High Point. She also found time to compete in regional beauty pageants (being crowned Miss Thomasville and advancing to the Miss North Carolina pageant). It was in Thomasville that she met Lloyd C. Dillon Jr., “the most handsome man I ever laid my eyes on,” she said. They were married April 3, 1958, and raised four boys. After moving their young family to Winston-Salem, Ida Rose continued to make music a priority, teaching piano and voice lessons out of the home to a steady stream of students. Soon, however, she felt the urge to reinvent herself and try something different. As one of the original four brokers at the newly created Helms-Parrish Properties in 1974, Ida Rose quickly found her new calling – “making families happy by helping them find their perfect home.” She went on to be recognized repeatedly as a top real estate producer in the Triad, building a rewarding career that paralleled her husband Lloyd’s path as a general contractor. Ida Rose was a lifelong learner, curious about current events and always staying apprised of the news. She loved to cook, decorate the house for the holidays, and soak up the sunshine on warm days. She read everything she could get her hands on, from magazines and newspapers to novels, biographies and how-to books. With her strong and enduring faith in God, she often quoted lines from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s “Power of Positive Thinking” and inspired others to “roll with the punches.” Ida Rose was a vivacious, spirited woman with keen business acumen, endless energy and, above all, immense love in her heart. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by her family and friends. She is survived by a brother, Jefferson H. Bruton, and his wife, Linda, of Hendersonville, N.C.; three sons, James Matthew Dillon (Matt) and his wife, Alison, of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; Paul Dillon and his wife, Kjerstin, of Orlando, Fla.; and Lloyd Dillon III of Winston-Salem; and four grandchildren, Matthew Dillon Jr., Caroline Dillon, Jackson Dillon and Lucy Dillon. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, husband and a son, David Lloyd Dillon. The Dillon family would like to thank the staff on the 600 Hall in Strickland Place at Arbor Acres for their dedication and care for our mother over the last six months. Additionally, we’d like to thank all of our mother’s caregivers over the years who allowed her to stay at home as long as possible. Services will be held Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Salem Funerals & Cremations, 120 South Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross.

Mrs. Ida Rose Bruton Dillon

November 9, 1933 - August 1, 2024

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