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Donald Joseph Dawson
01/21/1937 — 10/13/2003
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Yakima, WA
Donald Joseph Dawson
Donald Joseph Dawson
Donald Joseph Dawson went to be with the Lord October 13th, 2003. He was born on January 21, 1937 in Yakima, WA., the third of four children of Edward & Norma Dawson. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Patty, and three children and their spouses: David Dawson and wife Joy, Lynn Dawson Estey and husband Joe, and Daniel and wife Staci. He was the proud and much loved grandpa of six grandchildren including Joey, Bethany, Michael, Lucas, Kelsey and Melanie. Also surviving are brothers and one sister: Edward and wife Marcie, Jack and wife Murrel, Dolores Slovarp and husband Tom and numerous nieces and nephews.
His family moved to Richland in 1943, where he grew up and graduated from high school. Don often talked about the fun he had growing up with his buddies, spending most of their time playing in and exploring the Yakima river, riding their bikes through the desert and camping out. He was blessed enough to have this same group of buddies continue to be life long friends.
He met Patty during the first week at CBC in the old Navy complex and started dating. Don started in the Navy reserves, but after a few months of college, decided to go into the army. He completed basic training at Fort Ord, and the following December married Patty. He was stationed in Japan during his enlistment in the army. Finishing his duty to the Army, he joined the Air Force and spent the next 20 years traveling all over the world. Patty and their 3 children lived with him in Okinawa, Hawaii, France, Belgium, and various places in the US. He also did a tour of duty in Vietnam. During his Air Force career Don served on the staff of 2 four star generals and traveled extensively with them. Always humble, he received numerous commendations, medals, and citations but rarely told anyone about them. He retired from the Air Force in 1976 and his family returned home to Richland.
He worked for the City of Richland as the solid waste supervisor for 15 years and retired in 1995. Don was well respected and well liked by everyone who worked at the City, and was instrumental in improving the method for managing the activities of the department until his retirement. Along with Don's compassion and warmth, he will always be remembered for his great sense of humor. He had a special gift for seeing the best in people and creating the best of times. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, fishing and golfing. For 13 years, he was part of a Richland Fellowship that supported him and received support from him.
Don was a member at Westside Church and was deeply touched by the ''Alpha'' program. It helped to resolve many of the questions he had about life and God. It led him to a faith in Jesus that was a powerful experience for his family in the last year of his life.
A memorial Service will be held Saturday October 18th, 2003 at Westside Church South in Richland at 2:00 pm. Gifts of remembrance may be made to the Tri City Cancer Center or Tri City Hospice.
Dear Dawson family,
It was sad to learn of your loss of Don, but hallelujah he is now at HOME! I’m sure God was waiting for him with His arms wide open.
I first became acquainted with Don in our early school years and as we continued through until our graduation in 1955. He was one of the “good guys”, with his sense of humor always showing.
A few years ago I met Dave and found out Don was his father. I was able to meet Don again one Sunday at church and he gave me a big hug.
To you Patty, and the rest of the family, I pray God will comfort you and give you peace as only He can.
Blessings,
Barb
Patty and family,
I am so sorry to hear about Don. My family and I send our heartfelt condolences. The funeral notice certainly captured my memories of Don.
His sense of humor and friendly playful nature will always stand out when thinking of him. He was a good man whom I respected. His legacy will live on.
All my sympathy during this time of your loss.
Brian
John and I were so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. Although we knew him little, our daughter Jenny spent many happy times with him and his family. Don and Patty treated her like one of their own. She has warm memories of camping trips with the family and has talked of their fun loving company.
We know he is resting peacefully now. We send all of you our deapest sympathy and pray the Lord is shining on your hearts right now.
We are Andy and Elinor Woehler. Don was one of the members of our small group that we were leading for ALPHA. I was personally glad to have Don in the small group, as he and I were the only men in that group. This ment I had someone to listen to the Mariner Baseball games with during the ALPHA retreat at camp Gormley.
Elinor and I really enjoyed getting to know Don. What a character. His stories of his work for the city of Richland will continue to entertain us for years.
Don will always be part of our memories and our faith. We shared our lives during the Alpha course, and Don touched our hearts as much as anyone could. He made each of our small group sessions special. We are glad that we were able to share and walk with him on this part of his journey with the lord. Thank you Don, God bless.
We would like to express our
sympathy to Don’s family.
He will be remembered for his
sense of humor, quick wit and
genuine smile. I went to school with him from grade
school through graduation,and as Barbara stated he was one of the “good guys”. My mother still laughs about the time a group of us were at my house and she served dessert
on plates that my father brought back from China. She
stated “these plates are from
China”, he quickly replied,
“my mother buys her’s at the
10cent store”. She has never
forgotten that and it has brought many smiles to many
faces.
Our thoughts and prayers are
with all of you.
Nanna and Estey Family-
Im greatly sorry to hear of papas passing. I know he is with the lord and still with us all today. I will always remember his kind and jenerous heart and always a happy smile while on family trips and his sense of humor always making me laugh. I have wonderful memories of spending time with nana and papa and know that his love is with us all today and forever. My prayers are with him and with you.
Love
Jenny
Dear Dawson family,
It was sad to learn of your loss of Don, but hallelujah he is now at HOME! I’m sure God was waiting for him with His arms wide open.
I first became acquainted with Don in our early school years and as we continued through until our graduation in 1955. He was one of the “good guys”, with his sense of humor always showing.
A few years ago I met Dave and found out Don was his father. I was able to meet Don again one Sunday at church and he gave me a big hug.
To you Patty, and the rest of the family, I pray God will comfort you and give you peace as only He can.
Blessings,
Barb
Patty and family,
I am so sorry to hear about Don. My family and I send our heartfelt condolences. The funeral notice certainly captured my memories of Don.
His sense of humor and friendly playful nature will always stand out when thinking of him. He was a good man whom I respected. His legacy will live on.
All my sympathy during this time of your loss.
Brian
John and I were so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. Although we knew him little, our daughter Jenny spent many happy times with him and his family. Don and Patty treated her like one of their own. She has warm memories of camping trips with the family and has talked of their fun loving company.
We know he is resting peacefully now. We send all of you our deapest sympathy and pray the Lord is shining on your hearts right now.
We are Andy and Elinor Woehler. Don was one of the members of our small group that we were leading for ALPHA. I was personally glad to have Don in the small group, as he and I were the only men in that group. This ment I had someone to listen to the Mariner Baseball games with during the ALPHA retreat at camp Gormley.
Elinor and I really enjoyed getting to know Don. What a character. His stories of his work for the city of Richland will continue to entertain us for years.
Don will always be part of our memories and our faith. We shared our lives during the Alpha course, and Don touched our hearts as much as anyone could. He made each of our small group sessions special. We are glad that we were able to share and walk with him on this part of his journey with the lord. Thank you Don, God bless.
We would like to express our
sympathy to Don’s family.
He will be remembered for his
sense of humor, quick wit and
genuine smile. I went to school with him from grade
school through graduation,and as Barbara stated he was one of the “good guys”. My mother still laughs about the time a group of us were at my house and she served dessert
on plates that my father brought back from China. She
stated “these plates are from
China”, he quickly replied,
“my mother buys her’s at the
10cent store”. She has never
forgotten that and it has brought many smiles to many
faces.
Our thoughts and prayers are
with all of you.
Nanna and Estey Family-
Im greatly sorry to hear of papas passing. I know he is with the lord and still with us all today. I will always remember his kind and jenerous heart and always a happy smile while on family trips and his sense of humor always making me laugh. I have wonderful memories of spending time with nana and papa and know that his love is with us all today and forever. My prayers are with him and with you.
Love
Jenny
I will always remember my short visits with Don as I ran through Howard Amon and Don squired Levi. Meeting him in church was an unexpected pleasure. Though I didn’t get to know Don well, I could sense a specialness about him which always left me wishing that I did know him better.
Our thoughts & prayers are with Don’s family, loved ones, & many friends, who will miss his presence.
May God bless.
Ruben & Margaret Rosen
Our thoughts & prayers are with the family, loved ones, & many close friends. We all will miss his presence.He was a very ‘special’ person.
I am so sorry for your loss, Don was a very special man. I met him when we went through the ALPHA course together, and I always looked forward to seeing him at the dinners and loved talking to him. He was a wonderful man who touched my heart. I will miss him. My sympathies go out to your family.
Your family will be in our prayers:
Heather and Larry Guffey and Family.
Dear Patty and Family,
How very sad I am to learn of Don’s passing. I worked with Don for 15 years at the City of Richland and enjoyed him so very much. His sense of humor made each day enjoyable. Patty, he often spoke of his love of you and his family. How lucky we all were to have him in our lives. May God bless you and we hold you in our prayers. Love, Terry
Dear Dawson family,
It was sad to learn of your loss of Don, but hallelujah he is now HOME! God was waiting for him with with His arms wide open.
I first becaue acquainted with Don in our early school days and knew him as a classmate through graduation in 1955. He was one of the “good guys” with his sense of humor always showing.
A few years ago I met Dave and realized Don was his father. I was able to meet him again one Sunday at church and he gave me a big hug.
To you Patty, and the rest of the family, I pray God will confort you and give you peace as only He can.
Blessings….
Barb
Guestbook for
Donald Joseph Dawson