Russell Dawson, Jr, 82, passed away on May 25, 2010 after months of failing health. He was a life-long resident of Miami, except for Army service and extended visits with his children. Born Dec. 22, 1927 at Jackson M. Hospital to Katie Fletcher Dawson and Russell Dawson, Sr, who were among the early inhabitants of the relatively new city of Miami. He graduated from Miami Technical High School in 1947 and was a mechanic for 49 years at Steve’s Garage, Foremost Dairies, and Florida Dairies. He followed in the footsteps of most of the men in the Dawson family who
were mechanics, many of whom were among the earliest mechanics to settle in Miami. In 1950-1951 he served in the US Army in West Germany during the Cold War, stationed 11 miles from the Russian zone, and worried war might break out when he heard shooting. His mother, who joined the Jackson M. Hospital nursing school in the year of its first graduating class in 1923, died after the birth of her 5th child in 5 years. Russell was 5 years old at the time. His last residence before marriage was 1 block from the Orange Bowl. He married his loving wife Lillian in 1952. They were married nearly 54 years before she passed away in 2005. He is survived by his 3 children: Shirley Connuck Bruce of Falls Church, VA; Theresa Klein Kevin of Cape Coral, FL, Bill Dawson Jan of Del Rio, TN; and grandchildren Daniel Martinez, Kristina Dawson, Jeff and Scott Connuck and Katie and Megan Klein. He loved animals, photography and vacationing in the mountains. Visitation will be Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM with a Funeral Service at 1:30 PM at Boyd-Panciera Douglas Rd. Chapel. Entombment to follow at Woodlawn Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Broward County Humane Society, American Diabetes Associationor Kidney Foundation.