Raymond H. Dawson

Raymond H. Dawson, age 89, a lifelong resident of Mentor, passed away Monday, October 30, 2017 at Altercare of Mentor. Mr. Dawson was born March 20, 1928 in Painesville, OH to the late William and Mae Dawson. He was a graduate of the Mentor High School Class of 1946 and inducted to the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2005. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War, Intelligence Division, where he received the Army Commendation Medal and the Korean and U.S. Presidential Unit Citations medal; he was a member of the Special Operations, Special Forces Associations, VFW and American Legion. Ray was a real estate broker, developer and life-long servant for the City of Mentor. He played an instrumental part of its history including assisting with the plotting of the Mentor Industrial Park on Tyler Blvd with then-Mayor Eleanor Garfield, consolidating the Village and Township School districts and the establishment of Garfield Park’s pool and tennis courts. He served over 25 years on the Mentor Planning Commission, 10 years on the Mentor Port Authority and nearly 10 years on the Lake County Planning Commission. Additionally, Ray was a 15 year volunteer fireman and a Mentor Township Trustee member from 1959-62. Ray loved football vintage aircraft, sailboats and dogs; he had many four-legged friends throughout his lifetime. He is survived by his wife: Patti Pringle Dawson; Children: Deborah Dykstra, William (Debbie) Dawson, and Jon (Nancy) Dawson, step daughter: Judith Pringle Miller, grandchildren: Sarah Dykstra, Megan Dawson, Dustin Dykstra, Billy (Missy) Dawson and Warrant Officer Lucas (Elyse) Dawson, great-grandchildren: Dylan, Brayden, Ava, Brodie, Eden, Will and Jackson, extended family: Douglas, Michael, Gregory (Katrena), Stephen Pringle and Karen. He was preceded in death by his brother Ernest Dawson, the mother of his children, Ferne Dawson, and extended family Douglas and Jeffrey Pringle. A Military & Memorial Service will be 12:30 pm Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060 Contributions may be made in memory of Ray to The Hattie Larlham Foundation, P.O. Box 1200 Mantua, OH 44255-9988 or to Crossroads Hospice, 9775 Rockside Rd. Suite 270 Valley View, OH 44125 Offer condolences at www.brunners.com

Raymond H. Dawson

March 20, 1928 - October 30, 2017