Earl E. Dawson, 80 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, August 9, 2012 at Adams Memorial Hospital. He was born on Friday, October 9, 1931 in Monroeville, Indiana the son of the late Harold R. Dawson and the late Eulalia M. (Martin) Dawson. He married Eileen D. Davis on September 6, 1952 in St. Rose Catholic Church in Monroeville, Indiana. They would have celebrated sixty years of marriage this next month. Earl was a member of the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Moose Lodge, Knights of Columbus, American Legion & the U.A.W. He retired in 1982 as a material handler from International Harvester in Fort Wayne with 32 ½ years of service. He was also the former owner and operator of Decatur Sports Center from 1962 to 1976. He was the custodian at St. Joseph Catholic School in Decatur for eight years and had worked at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery and Decatur Cemetery for six years. Surviving are his wife, Eileen D. Dawson of Decatur; daughter, Darla S. (Timothy G.) Beer of Decatur; son, Edward E. (Rosanne) Dawson of Decatur; brother, Donald H. (Agnes) Dawson of Monroeville; brother, Daniel C. (Nede) Dawson of Rotonda West, Florida; sister, Eleanor Van Horn of Monroeville; and sister, Mary A. (Maurice) Kline of New Haven. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Daniel E. Dawson; Katelyn E. Dawson; Rebecca A. Meyer; Sarah A. Burgin; & Angela S. Beer and eleven great-grandchildren. Preceding Earl in death were his sister, Patricia Dawson and his brother, Louis Dawson. A prayer service will be held at 9:20 a.m. Monday, August 13, 2012 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 a.m. in the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. Father David Voors will be officiating. Interment will follow in the Spring Hill - Backesto Cemetery. Friends will be received from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, August 12 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur Preferred memorials are to Masses to the church or donations to St. Joseph Catholic School in Decatur.
