Austin Wayne Dobson

Born July 30, 1937 in Pekin to Austin Wayne, Sr. and Pearl Houston (Howard) Dobson, he married Patricia Carol Waid on November 29, 1958 in Peoria.  She died July 20, 2010 in Peoria.  He also was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert Dean Dobson.

Surviving are one daughter, Marcie Dobson of Pekin; one son, Michael (Rose) Dobson of Pekin; six grandchildren, Andy Dobson of Marquette Heights, whom he raised from infancy, Dakota Stokes, Zachary Stokes, both of Brimfield, Michael Dobson of Pekin, Thomas Dobson and Casey Dobson, both of Tennessee and eight great-grandchildren.

He served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958.  Austin worked for Caterpillar, Inc. at the Mapleton Foundry and later in Mossville, where he retired in 1996 with 30 years of service.

Austin was an avid train watcher and a fan of the Chicago Bears.  He was a longtime member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 265 in Peoria.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  Pastor Dave Wilder of Bethesda Pentecostal Church of God in Pekin will officiate.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Illinois Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 11 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1800, Chicago, IL 60603.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com