William "Bill" or "W.K." K. Dawson

W.K. (Bill) Dawson, died Sunday at age 87 after an extended illness. He is survived by his wife, Reba;his five children: Bill of Pittsburg, PA, Becky of Greensboro, NC, Grace of Tecumseh, Daniel of Yukon , Kathleen of Shawnee; eleven grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. He was born April 5,1927 in Clarksville, TX. He served his country in WWII in the Signal Core of the Army. He was a graduate of OBU with his bachelor, then went on to attend seminary. He worked for Tinker AFB for 13 years before moving to Montpelier ,VA. While there, he worked in the IT department of the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board and served the Lord world-wide working with missionaries. After returning to Oklahoma, he served Baptist Hospital in their information technology services. He retired to his farm and family, where he served in his church, volunteered with local FFA and 4-H chapters and expanded Oakridge Herefords, his family owned livestock operation. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Cancer research Fundraising page at https://www.yellowcheetah.com/fundraising/382/14813/BIllDawson-MemorialCancerResearch. Services will be Thursday, August 14, at 2:00 pm at Immanuel Baptist Church.

Bill Dawson was my father. He battled Lymphoma for over a dozen years at the end of his life. It was a tough struggle but he was strong and fought hard through chemo, radiation, surgery and many other procedures. He also suffered 2 major strokes during his fight. In the end, the disease, the treatments, and the resulting poor health was more than he could overcome. He passed away on August 10th, 2014 leaving behind his wife, five children, eleven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. All loved him dearly and miss him greatly.

Cancer has been part of our societal consciousness for so long we seem to have just come to accept it. We shouldn't. It's a disease, chemistry gone awry, biological failure. Like so many other diseases in the past, if we do the right research, we can make it part of history instead of part of our daily lives.

Please, PLEASE, don't accept cancer as an inevitable part of life. Fight back!

There is a group of us in Oklahoma City fighting back. We are with the Go Mitch Go Foundation. Our mission is simply to raise funds for organizations that conduct blood/bone cancer research and assist families struggling with these diseases. We are endurance athletes training for various races and events throughout the year. The culmination of our efforts will be at Tempe Arizona on November 16th, where we will race in the Ironman Arizona triathlon. I have chosen to participate in Ironman races because I feel this is a personal symbol of the struggles that patients and families face daily.

An Ironman race is not so much a measure of your training or fitness. Ironman is more about your willingness and ability to endure the pain and suffering it takes to get to the finish line. By that measure, my father is an Ironman many times over. I race Ironman in honor of his suffering and I raise money to help in the fight to end cancer.

Please help by contributing.

https://www.yellowcheetah.com/fundraising/382/14813/BIllDawson-MemorialCancerResearch

Thank You and Keep fighting!

Daniel Dawson