Robert Dawson Sr.
1927 - 2016
Obituary
Robert E. Dawson, Sr., 89, of Newton,
died Monday (Aug. 15, 2016) at Newton Medical Center.
Robert was born March 14, 1927, in
Hoisington, to Olive M. (Knox) and John Grant Dawson. He was the
youngest of nine children. Dawson graduated from Hoisington High
School.
On Sept. 5, 1948, he married Joanna
Irene Keeling in Salina. To this marriage was born two sons.
Robert was a marketing representative
with Skelly/Getty Oil Company before retiring in 1984 after 18 years.
Prior to Skelly Oil, he was a drilling fluid engineer for 18 years
with Baroid Mud Company. He had also worked as an electrical lineman
for Western Light & Telephone, was a car salesman and a life
insurance agent.
He was an avid sports fan and
participant, playing basketball and tennis into his late 30s. Then,
golf became his passion until his battle with Parkinson's disease
forced him to give up the sport. He also was a basketball radio
sportscaster while living in Pratt. He enjoyed volunteering his time
as a driver for the Miss Kansas Scholarship Pageant during the
family's years in Pratt and he especially enjoyed coaching his sons'
youth basketball and baseball teams in Guymon, Oklahoma, Pratt and
Wichita.
An active member of the First Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ), he held the positions of deacon, elder
and trustee in communities where he lived. With the Kansas Christian
Home Auxiliary, he held various committee positions.
He was a past president of the Salina
men's golf association (serving on the committee that started that
association), a past president of the Hesston men's golf association,
president of the Guymon, Oklahoma, Jaycees, an Oklahoma State Jaycee
Vice-President, a member of the Colorado Oil Information Committee, a
member of the Kansas Oil/Gas Marketers Association and a member of
the Skelly/Getty retirees' organization.
Robert was preceded in death by his
wife in 2004, and by his four brothers and four sisters.
Survivors include two sons, Robert
Dawson, Jr. and his wife, Becky, Winfield, and Ronald Dawson, Salina.
There is one grandchild, Kami Dawson, of Davenport, Florida.
A Memorial service will be held at
Newton First Christian Church on Friday (Aug. 19, 2016) at 1:30 pm.
The Rev. Gary Bell will preside.
Cremation has taken place and burial
will be at Restlawn Garden of Memories (west of Newton) following the
service.
The family requests memorials to the
Kansas Christian Home Auxiliary in care of Broadway Colonial Funeral
Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Kansas 67114. Friends may sign the
book and read the obituary online at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
