Former Dillons CEO Ray Dillon Jr. dies

Former Dillons Companies CEO Ray Dillon Jr. died at 91 earlier this month, according to a release from a Dillons spokesperson.

Known as “Ace,” Ray Dillon was the grandson of Dillons grocery store founder J.S. Dillon and a lifelong resident of Hutchinson, aside from a short stint at the University of Kansas and his military service in Europe during World War II, according to the release.

Dillon died at his home in Hutchinson on Aug. 15 and was memorialized Saturday in his hometown. Following in the footsteps of his father, Ray, Sr., Dillon worked as the president and CEO of the family company for 26 years until 1983, the point when it was acquired by Kroger, which has more than 2,600 supermarkets and department stores nationwide under various brand names.

This story was originally published August 25, 2015 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Former Dillons CEO Ray Dillon Jr. dies."