NEWTON — Robert E. Dawson Sr., 89, of Newton, died 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 this 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, Okla., Pratt, and Wichita.
An active member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he held 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, Okla. 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.
Survivors include two sons, Robert Dawson Jr. and his wife, Becky, of Winfield, and Ronald Dawson of Salina; and one grandchild, Kami Dawson, Davenport, Fla. Robert was preceded in death by his wife in 2004; and by his four brothers and four sisters.
A memorial service will be held at Newton First Christian Church at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19 with the Rev. Gary Bell presiding. 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 the funeral home. Friends may sign the book and read the obituary online at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Broadway Colonial Funeral Home**
120 E. Broadway
Newton, KS 67114
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 17, 2016
