Harold "John" I. Dawson

Harold I. "John" Dawson, 79, of Bolivar went to be with he Lord on Friday, July 25, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family following an extended illness.

He was born on March 30, 1935 to the late Thomas and Margaret Price Dawson in Morgan County, Ohio and moved with his family to the Bolivar area at a young age. He graduated from Bolivar High School in 1953 and retired from Republic Steel in Massillon after 41 years of service. Harold was a member of Massillon Baptist Temple and was an avid sports fan; attending Strasburg softball games until recently when failing eyesight prevented him from seeing the action. He was a strong family man, who enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers and sisters. Harold had a love for farming, John Deere tractors, Ford trucks and old cars.

He was a quiet man, but was the leader of his family and will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 16 years, Rose Newman Dawson whom he married on May 11, 1998; sons, Harold (Michele) Dawson of Dover, John Dawson of New Philadelphia; daughters, Nancy (Chris) King of Strasburg and April (Larry) Kennedy of Alabama; step daughter, Becky (Walter) Johnson of Beach City; sisters, Clairene Dickerhoof and Jane Ross of Strasburg, Esther Norris of Beach City and Grace (Earl) Ross of Arkansas; 14 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Harold was also preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Dawson; granddaughter, Caley Dawson; sisters, Mary Beal and Margaret McFadden and brothers, Bill and Thomas Dawson.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 28, 2014 beginning at 3pm in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at Dover with Pastor Cecil Thayer officiating. Interment will be in the Grandview Union Cemetery at Strasburg. A reception will follow in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard at Dover. Friends may call at the funeral home Monday from 2-3pm. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of Harold may sign the online guestbook by visiting the "Obituaries and Flowers"link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com

Memorial contributions may be made to either the Massillon Baptist Temple, 1219 Overlook Ave., Massillon, Ohio 44647 or the Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663