Rev. George R. Dawson Obituary (1923

ROCKLAND - The Reverend George R. Dawson, 83, died following a brief illness, Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, November 3, 1923 he was the son of The Reverend George William and Elsie Moodey Dawson. Educated in local schools he was a 1941 graduate of East Side High School in Paterson, New Jersey. Following high school, he enrolled at Bowdoin College. Although his studies were interrupted by service in the U.S. Army during WWII, he returned to earn a BA in Governmental Studies in 1947. He then went on to the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduating in 1950. Mr. Dawson was ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey in June, 1950 and was Priested in December that same year. From 1950 to 1960 he served as Vicar and later Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Ramsey, New Jersey. He next served as Rector of Grace Church in Baldwinsville, New York until 1965. He later went to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Paterson, New Jersey from 1965 to 1970. From 1973 until 1988, Mr. Dawson was Port Director and then Senior Port Chaplain of Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey in Port Newark, New Jersey. During that time he also authored a book, "Reaching Seamen". In 1989 The Reverend Dawson retired with his wife to Rockland. Although he considered himself retired, he was very active in the ministry. He often volunteered his services to prison ministry and supplied at St. Timothy's Church of Vinalhaven for several years. In addition, he celebrated the Eucharist Sunday afternoons at both the Knox and Shore Village Nursing Homes. He had been a member of St. John Baptist Episcopal Church for many years. He was also a member of the Down East Singers, a member and past president of the Propeller Club in Searsport, served on the board and was a past president of Habitat for Humanity. He was also an active member of the Rockland Kiwanis Club. Mr. Dawson is survived by his wife Roberta T. Dawson of Rockland; two sons, George W. Dawson and his wife Sandi of Dover, Delaware, John Herbert Dawson of Owls Head; his daughter, The Reverend Marjorie Dawson Lindstrom and her husband Michael of Rutherford, New Jersey; as well as three grandchildren, Allison Olenik of Dover, Delaware, Anders Lindstrom and his wife Aleksandra of Fayetteville, North Carolina and Erik Lindstrom of Rutherford, New Jersey. A Eucharist and Office of the Burial of the Dead will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 21, 2007 at St. John Baptist Episcopal Church, Main Street, Thomaston. The Reverend Peter Jenks will officiate. Interment will follow immediately at Achorn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, 118 Export Street, Port Newark, New Jersey 07114. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.