Virginia Dawson

Virginia (Ginny) Dawson passed away on October 18, 2025. She spent much of her childhood in California. She was a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles where she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Dawson. In 1953, Ginny and Bill moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where Bill became a professor of biology at the University of Michigan. Ginny’s first and most important life mission was to support and take care of Bill and her three children, but she also pursued many of her other passions. She brought a creative touch to all of her endeavors whether it be cooking, gardening, painting, sewing, or arts and crafts. Ginny and Bill came to love Ann Arbor and made it their lifelong home. They also loved to travel and visited all seven continents over the course of their life together. As Ginny became older and less able to engage in these activities, she became best known for her warm and engaging smile when she greeted friends and family, and for her sly sense of humor. She is survived by her three children: Deborah Evans (spouse Edward Evans), Denise Dawson, William Dawson (spouse, Monica Dawson); four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the University of Michigan Library Strategic Fund or the University of Michigan Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Strategic Fund.