Arbutus Jean Dawson

November 5, 1927 – June 4, 2023

Jean Dawson (as she preferred to be called) was born on November 5, 1927, to Warner and Rheba Beck in Petersburg, Indiana. She was the second of 6 children: Thomas, Jean, Pansy, Virginia, James, and Goldie. Later that year, Warner, Rheba, Thomas and Jean moved to Connersville where she lived out the rest of her life.

She attended and graduated with honors from Connersville High School in 1944 and became an Executive Secretary to the President of McQuay-Norris, a major manufacturing plant at the time in Connersville. That's where she met her soulmate, and future husband, George Robert Dawson.

Jean was quite shy, but George, with his charms, finally won her over. After a short engagement, they decided to get married in July 1946 at the First Baptist Church in Connersville. They were both very active members from that time until their passings.

They were inseparable. Being enthusiastic outdoors people, they started running in the 1960s, and continued for over thirty years, only stopping due to the unfortunate diagnosis of Alzheimer's given to George in 1996. They also enjoyed long walks, bicycling, camping, travelling with their mobile home, and for thirteen years were very involved in the Indiana Wings, part of the Confederate Airforce. They restored World War II aircraft to be flown in annual air shows around the Country.

Jean was a loving and supportive mother to her two sons: Terry Allen Dawson of Connersville and Thomas Joseph Dawson of Houston, Texas. Terry and his wife, Deborah, returned that favor when in the last 6 months of her life they took her from her assisted-care facility into their home, and spent hours helping her through the last phase of her life. She was very thankful for having that time with them.

While Heaven gained another Angel this day, many have gone before her, and many are left to morn her passing:

Preceded in death by her parents and siblings apart from her loving sister Goldie Allamon, she is survived by her two sons, Terry and Thomas, along with their spouses Deborah Dawson and Gregory Bergeron respectively, numerous nieces and nephews, 6 grandchildren: Shane Dawson and his wife Kayo in Guam; Crystal Dawson of Crosby, Texas, Bradley Dawson of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Brooke Bainter and his wife Amanda of Connersville, and Stacia Dawson of Fishers, Indiana. She is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren.

Jean asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the First Baptist Church Food Pantry. Viewing will be on June 13, 2023, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Urban Winkler Funeral Home in Connersville, followed by a brief service by the Pastor Mal Gibson from the First Baptist Church.  Burial will be next to her husband of nearly 77 years in Dale Cemetery.