Richard Earl Dawson passed away on Oct. 10, 2025.
He was born on June 14, 1942 in Wichita Falls, TX, to Lawrence Henry (Bud) and Lynn Dawson. Richard graduated from Henrietta, TX as salutatorian of his class. He then attended and graduated from Texas Tech University, moved to Oklahoma with his first wife Phyllis and began a career at Tinker Air Force Base, where he worked for a number of years. He followed that with a long stint at the Federal Aviation Administration before retiring in 2001. While employed at Tinker, he completed his Masters in Electrical Engineering.
He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Linda Dawson, his daughter Beth Gage and his son Rick Dawson. He also leaves behind three grandchildren, Erin and Ella Gage and Jake Dawson; his sister Donna Sammons and nephew Paul Sammons; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Lynn Dawson, father Lawrence Henry (Bud) Dawson, first wife, Phyllis Flowers Dawson and nephew Dennis Richard Sammons.
Services were held Oct. 17, 2025 at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Jessica Higgins, Bethel United Methodist Church officiating. Burial followed at Bethel Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.
