Surrounded by his family, Ken went home to be with the Lord, after a short battle with Pancreatic cancer.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest of 4 children, and moved to the Howard area in 1947. Ken graduated from Howard High School in 1951 and enlisted in the Navy in 1952, where he became a diesel mechanic. He was stationed on the USS Menifee during the Korean Conflict. He worked as engineer on ICVP boats that transported troops to the North Korean beaches. He was honorably discharged in 1956. He married Mary Sue Rice on February 28, 1953, they had 4 children together. Ken gave his heart fully to the Lord in 1959 and was a long-time member of the Danville Church of Christ where he served in various leadership positions. He formed Dawson Construction in 1966, and along with his sons, built numerous homes, apartments, office buildings, and churches throughout mid-Ohio, but his greatest satisfaction was building churches and homes in Mexico in the name of the Lord. Ken and Mary Sue owned Camp Millwood from 1977-1989. He created a family campground in a Christian atmosphere. He made many friends during the Camp Millwood years, and created unlimited memories for his children and grandkids. He was often found with a pocket full of quarters and sneaking candy from the camp store to the grandkids behind Sue's back. Ken enjoyed his retirement working in his woodshop making birthday and Christmas gifts for the grandkids, and creating scroll art projects to sell at craft shows. Ken's family brought him the greatest joy and he loved his grandkids and great-grandkids dearly.
Ken is survived by Sue his wife of 57 years, children Kenneth Jr. of DeLeon Springs, FL, Marie (Tom) Wears of Millersburg, OH, Robert (Gayle) Dawson of Howard, OH, and Beth (David) Erquhart of McKinleyville, CA; grandkids Michelle, Kendra, Jason, Angela, Melissa, Shawn, Robin, Branden, Dustin, Zackery, Michaela; and 18 great-grandkids; sisters Carol Didinger and Cathy Gallwitz; several nieces and nephews, and a special family member, Uncle Dick of Twinsburg, OH.
Grandson Darek Wears was the first at the golden gate to greet grandpa when he arrived, as well as Ken's mother and father, Gene & Mary Dawson, brother Georgie, and his special Aunt Grace, who spoiled him rotten.
Calling hours will be Tuesday, December 14th, from 4-8pm, with services on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., with Matt McManaway officiating. Both held at Danville Church of Christ, 15961 Danville-Jelloway Rd., Danville, OH. Burial will follow at Workman Cemetery with graveside military rites performed by the Knox Co. Joint Veterans Council. Fischer Funeral Home in Danville is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Ken's favorite mission organization: Hippo Valley Christian Mission and Children's Home, 132 Main St., Grayson, KY 41143, or to the Palliative Care Unit at Knox Community Hospital, 1330 Coshocton Rd., Mt. Vernon, OH 43050, where Dad and our family were compassionately cared for. A special thanks to Dr. Greene, the nurses, and staff who all went above and beyond in the care they gave to a body that was dying, and a soul that now lives forever in glory.
