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 Co. before retiring in 1984 after 18 years. Prior to Skelly Oil, he was a drilling fluid engineer for 18 years with Baroid Mud Co. He also had 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 30’s. 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, Kansas 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.
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, Davenport, Fla.
A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, at Newton First Christian Church. 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, KS 67114.
