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| Donald Robert Dobson |
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, July 31 at the Atkinson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Caring Hearts of Peculiar, P.O. Box 371, Peculiar, MO, 64078.
Don was born on a rural farm in Peculiar, Missouri, during a heavy snow storm, on January 11, 1940 to the late Robert Franklin and Mildred Odessa Stine Dobson. During high school, Don played numerous sports, excelling in softball and baseball. Don earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Central Missouri State University and his Master’s Degree in Education Administration from the University of Southern California.
Don proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, where he earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his 24 years of service, Don and family were stationed in Salina - Kansas, Tucson - Arizona, and Madrid - Spain. Don retired from the Air Force and began his second career at AT&T where he worked his way to the position of Senior Product Manager. After 30 dedicated years, Don retired to his life at the lake.
Don married JoAnn Reed on December 8, 1962 in Peculiar, Missouri. Together they spent the next 42 years raising a family, traveling the world and living a lifetime of memories until her passing in 2004. Don married Judith Ann Purdy on December 14, 2006 in Nacogdoches, Texas. Together they have shared the last 10 plus years living life at the lake and enjoying retirement.
Don was a religious man, always finding a home church wherever he was living. For the past 17 years, Don has been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon where he served on various committees and taught Sunday school. Don always enjoyed traveling with friends, especially to Canada. He was a life-long sportsman where he had a deep love for hunting and fishing. Don even taught a freshwater fishing class at Longview College in Missouri for many years. He enjoyed making his own fishing lures and reloading his own shotgun shells. Don even won many Angler of the Year awards for his fishing abilities. Those who knew Don best will always remember him for the love he had for the lake and the lifestyle that came with it, but know that Don’s greatest joy in life came from his beloved family. He leaves behind a dedication to his God, his country, and his family that will live on in the hearts of those he knew and loved.
Don is survived by his wife, Judy Dobson, of Mount Vernon; one son, Robert Dean Dobson, and wife Sue, of Barboursville, Virginia; two daughters, Deborah Jean Meiron, and husband Mitch, of Raymore, Missouri and Cheryl Donean Schmidt, and husband Randy, of Spring, Texas; one step-son, Chris Purdy, and wife Karen, of Marshall, Missouri; one step-daughter, Tina Tipton, and husband Tony, of Little Elm, Texas; one brother, Larry Lee Dobson, and wife Mary, of Peculiar, Missouri; and by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other relatives and very special friends.
Don was born on a rural farm in Peculiar, Missouri, during a heavy snow storm, on January 11, 1940 to the late Robert Franklin and Mildred Odessa Stine Dobson. During high school, Don played numerous sports, excelling in softball and baseball. Don earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Central Missouri State University and his Master’s Degree in Education Administration from the University of Southern California.
Don proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, where he earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his 24 years of service, Don and family were stationed in Salina - Kansas, Tucson - Arizona, and Madrid - Spain. Don retired from the Air Force and began his second career at AT&T where he worked his way to the position of Senior Product Manager. After 30 dedicated years, Don retired to his life at the lake.
Don married JoAnn Reed on December 8, 1962 in Peculiar, Missouri. Together they spent the next 42 years raising a family, traveling the world and living a lifetime of memories until her passing in 2004. Don married Judith Ann Purdy on December 14, 2006 in Nacogdoches, Texas. Together they have shared the last 10 plus years living life at the lake and enjoying retirement.
Don was a religious man, always finding a home church wherever he was living. For the past 17 years, Don has been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon where he served on various committees and taught Sunday school. Don always enjoyed traveling with friends, especially to Canada. He was a life-long sportsman where he had a deep love for hunting and fishing. Don even taught a freshwater fishing class at Longview College in Missouri for many years. He enjoyed making his own fishing lures and reloading his own shotgun shells. Don even won many Angler of the Year awards for his fishing abilities. Those who knew Don best will always remember him for the love he had for the lake and the lifestyle that came with it, but know that Don’s greatest joy in life came from his beloved family. He leaves behind a dedication to his God, his country, and his family that will live on in the hearts of those he knew and loved.
Don is survived by his wife, Judy Dobson, of Mount Vernon; one son, Robert Dean Dobson, and wife Sue, of Barboursville, Virginia; two daughters, Deborah Jean Meiron, and husband Mitch, of Raymore, Missouri and Cheryl Donean Schmidt, and husband Randy, of Spring, Texas; one step-son, Chris Purdy, and wife Karen, of Marshall, Missouri; one step-daughter, Tina Tipton, and husband Tony, of Little Elm, Texas; one brother, Larry Lee Dobson, and wife Mary, of Peculiar, Missouri; and by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other relatives and very special friends.
