H. Dickson McKenna died on September 11, 2014 at Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury, Irvington, Va. He was born January 5, 1919 in Brooklyn, N. Y., the son of Dr. William Francis McKenna and Helen Dickson McKenna. He graduated in 1942 from Yale University School of Architecture and as a member of the NROTC immediately went into the U. S. Navy. He served in photo intelligence in the Pacific theater, stationed principally in Australia.

At the end of World War II, Dickson returned to New York and the practice of architecture. He designed private residences, was Curator of Architecture at the Museum of Modern Art, participated in the design of the Pan American terminal at JFK, was project architect for Little Dix Bay, designed the Malaysian Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair, was Executive Director of the New York State Association of the American Institute of Architects. He spent two years in Thailand supervising an Eisenhower administration grant to the Thai government for the construction of an airport near Bangkok. His time there gave him a love and appreciation for the Thai people and their culture which endured for the rest of his life.

Dickson was a member of the delegation to South East Asia to solicit participation in the New York World’s Fair, chairman of the Thai Council of the Asia Society, a founding member and treasurer of the Brownstone Revival Committee and author of the prototype book on brownstone restoration, “A House in the City”. He was past master and secretary emeritus of the Elisha Kent Kane Masonic Lodge in New York.

In 1994, the McKenna’s moved to Lancaster County to an 1884 farm and Dickson continued his interest in restoration. Always an artist, he turned to monotypes in his retirement. He was a member of the Rappahannock Art League and a volunteer at Historic Christ Church.

Dickson McKenna is survived by his loving wife, Susan.

Graveside services will be held 2:00 p. m. Wednesday, September 24 at Historic Christ Church Burying Grounds, Weems.