Robert William Dawson was born April 25, 1927, in Bellaire, Ohio, son of Samuel Elberton and Lois Etta (Athey) Dawson. He had two older siblings, his half-sister Eilene and his brother Kenneth. Robert passed away September 8, 2019, at home with family by his side. Robert joined the United States Air Force when he was 17, but had to finish high school before going to Columbus, Ohio, for assessment tests. Afterwards he was sent to Keesler Air Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, for training. He wanted to become a fighter pilot, but the war was nearing its end and he wasn't able to fulfill that goal during his time in the Air Force. After being discharged from the Air Force, he went with a friend to visit Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. He was offered a scholarship to play baseball, and with his GI bill was able to graduate in 1951. He was offered a position with Gulf Oil as a geophysicist (a fairly new science then) and was sent all over the world as a result. He retired from Gulf Oil in 1985, and retired to Melba, Idaho. He loved all sports, but his passion was basketball; however, he was really good at baseball. He played as a pitcher and could throw at nearly 102 mph and played semi-pro ball in many of the towns where he lived. In the beginning, he earned more playing baseball than at Gulf Oil. At one point, he was offered the chance to go to Spring Training with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but decided to stay with Gulf Oil. He was also a very good racquetball player; ask anyone who tried to beat him! When Gulf Oil sent him to New Orleans, he finally realized his dream of flying an airplane. He built his own plane in his garage. That plane won many races (speed) and was still flying not many years ago. He has owned many private planes and his family has memories of flying from New Orleans to Pennsylvania to visit family. Robert was very talented mechanically and could fix almost anything. If his airplane didn't have retractable landing gear, he figured out how to change it. On his final plane, he figured out how to have the canopy open and close with a small motor he installed. He also changed out the propeller and engine to make the plane fit in a sport plane category so he didn't have to do an annual physical in order to keep a pilot's license. He became interested in Fast Draw shooting and tinkered with his gun until he could draw fast enough to compete in local competitions. He also learned to do leatherwork and created many hand-tooled holster and belts. He was so skilled that he sold them to many he met in the Fast Draw community and others. He became interested in music and taught himself to play the organ, starting with a small keyboard first. He played his organ for many church and family events through the years. On August 16, 1952, he married Marilyn May Felsing. They celebrated 65 years of marriage shortly before she passed away in 2018. They were blessed with five children. They were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1958 in New Orleans, Louisiana. They were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 17, 1970. Robert served in many capacities throughout his life: Stake Clerk, Bishop, and High Council member. He has always said that he is amazed 'at where my life has gone. I feel I was led by the hand of the Lord'. Robert is survived by his five children: Samuel (Michele) Dawson, Mountain Home, Idaho; Robin Fellman, Delta Junction, Alaska; Charlene Connor, Orem, Utah; Jennifer (Kurt) Nastasi, Gretna, Louisiana; Robert W. (Carol) Dawson Jr., York, South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Elberton and Lois Etta (Athey) Dawson; his beloved wife, Marilyn May (Felsing) Dawson; his sister and her husband, Clyde & Eilene (Traugh) Mellott; and his brother and his wife, Kenneth & Margaret (Maginski) Dawson.
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