William Dawson

William “Bill” Robert Dawson, age 77, born March 20, 1944, died peacefully in his sleep on December 22, 2021, in Winter Park, FL. Bill was born to the late William Newton Dawson and Ruth Marguerite (Pledger) Dawson in Rochester, New York. They later moved to New Hampshire and finally Orlando, Florida. Bill graduated in 1962 from Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, FL. After a few years of working in the family business, Dawson’s Wallpaper, Bill joined the U.S. Air Force in 1966 where he was trained at Indiana University as an Air Force language specialist. He became a Russian translator and was stationed in Turkey. He loved to call himself a spy. “Double-o-nothing”, he would call himself. Always an entrepreneur at heart, Bill followed in the family business owning multiple Dawson’s Wallpaper stores, but he also would hang wallpaper on the side (or any other side job). Anyone who knew Bill, knew he would rather be out and about, than punching a timeclock. His love of the open road led him to running his own trucking business. Bill was outgoing and always loved to have fun. He would travel any chance he got. From numerous family cross country driving excursions, to taking his kids to hike the Appalachian trail, Bill wanted to see it all.  After retiring, he took many cruises and trips with the love of his life, Carol. When he was home, he would fall back to his childhood joy and fill the house with music. Bill was an entertainer. Whether it was singing in a barbershop quartet or hosting sing-a-longs while playing the organ or piano. Bill enjoyed making people laugh. Always the entertainer. Rest in Peace. Survived by: Spouse- Carol (Svidron) Dawson. Children- Laurie (Dawson) Foht, Kenneth Foht (in law), Kurt Dawson, Shelley (Fitzwater) Dawson (in-law), Garry Billick, and Monica Billick (in-law). Grand Children- Kenneth “KJ” Foht, Trystan Foht, Olivia Dawson, Jacob Dawson, Samantha Dawson, Tyler Billick, Savannah Billick, and Kaitlyn Billick. Mother of his children- Susan (Sjoberg) Morgan. Siblings- Carol (Dawson) Hoffner, James Dawson, Richard Dawson, and Donald Dawson.