Lola Jean “Bug” Dillon Fawbush passed away Saturday, November 2, 2024 in Gainesboro Tennessee. Lola was the daughter of Robert ‘Ed’ and Christine Dillon, born May 5th of 1947 in Anderson, Indiana. Robert was killed in a car accident when she was only 4 months old; Paul ‘Cricket’ Strong became her second father 8 years later when he wed Christine.
Lola was an exceptional musical talent, showing great interest in singing, songwriting, and playing the guitar. At the age of 17 she signed a songwriting agreement with the prolific Harlan Howard’s Wilderness Music kicking off a career in Nashville that would eventually earn numerous accolades and songs reaching number one on the Billboard charts.
She married Tommy Fawbush, a real estate developer and landlord, at the age of 19 at the Clay County Courthouse, and the two settled in the Nashville area.
Her songwriting catalog includes hits she penned for Loretta Lynn, such as ”When the Tingle Becomes a Chill”, “Somebody Somewhere (Don’t Know What He’s Missin’ Tonight)”, “Somebody Led Me Away”, “Spring Fever”; “We’re Caught Between a Love and a Love Affair” and “ You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” for Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty; “I’ve Lived My Life” for Dolly Parton; “Today All Over Again” for Reba McEntire; and a host of other songs, either solo or with her writing partner L. E. White, for artists such as Gene Watson, Billie Jo Spears, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Louvin, Cal Smith, and many others.
After her country music career, she relocated back home, where she was a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.
She is survived by her sister, Paulette (Strong) Scott of Moss, TN aunts & uncles Bill Dillon of Livingston, TN, Ruth Ashenhurst of Portland, OR, and Judy Reagan of Byrdstown, TN; cousins Tim Parker, Connie Kendall, Danny Kendall, Brooke Burchett, and Rhonda Hamilton; nieces: Kassi & Zac Fox of Columbia, TN, Tammie & Stacy Dickerson of Cookeville, TN, Gracie Huff, and Mylie Herron.
Graveside services will be held at Macedonia Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 4, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Lola’s memory may be made to https://musicares.org/donations
Arrangements are under the direction of Yokley Trible Funeral Home.
