William Charles Dawes

William "Bill" Charles Dawes died June 10, 2017 at the age of 86 of pancreatic cancer in Dayton, Washington.

Bill was born to Lucille and Charles Dawes on June 18, 1930 in Salem Oregon. He lived in Beaverton, Oregon while growing up and graduated from Beaverton High School in 1948.
At his 8th grade graduation, Bill was awarded the American Legion Award for the most outstanding student in the class. This was an accomplishment he was very proud of.

College years were spent at Oregon State College, now Oregon State University and he was a true Beaver fan. Bill had many opportunities starting in the 70’s to attend Beaver games in the press box where he could help keep stats for the voice of the Beavers, Darrell Aune, a beloved “family member”.
From 1950 to 1953 Bill was enlisted in the US Army Reserve during the Korean War. He had hoped to have enlisted in the Coast Guard but was turned down due to his hay fever.

On October 26, 1950 Bill married Shirley Schultz in St. Helens, Oregon. While working for Cargill terminal on Swan Island, he was approached by the manager to consider management and was asked to go to Colfax, Washington to work in their grain office in 1954. In 1957, he had an opportunity to apply for the assistant manager’s position at LaCrosse Washington Grain Growers and was hired. In 1958, he became the manager and at that time he was the youngest grain manager in the northwest at the age of 28.

In 1958 they had a daughter Cynthia (Cindy) and Terry in 1959.
In 1974, Bill accepted a job at Blackfoot Idaho as the manager marketing grains and potatoes. Having a desire to return to Washington State, the family landed in Walla Walla in 1975. While in Walla Walla, Bill worked for a couple grain companies and was an insurance agent. Needing to return to his "roots", Bill took a job with The Walla Walla Grain Growers and retired from that company in 1997. After retirement, Bill and his wife Shirley decided that the small town life is where they wanted to be and decided on Waitsburg, Washington. Traveling the country visiting friends and making new ones, spoiling grandkids and antique hunting, they enjoyed their retirement together until Shirley’s death due to pancreatic cancer in 2004.

Bill remained active in the Waitsburg area, and had a routine of walking a couple miles a day, then going to the Hardware store for coffee, sweets and conversation with friends, to promptly leave at 9am to pick up the mail and walk home. This routine was noted by many and if Bill didn't follow it, the good people of Waitsburg went asking where he was at. (Thank you Waitsburg!)

Bill was active member of the Masonic Lodge, Shriner, Elks Lodge, Lions club and the Presbyterian Church. He was very involved in any community activity that needed a helper. An avid hunter, fisherman, golfer and bowler there were many stories that involved his many adventures with friends. Skydiving became at passion at the age of 85, 86 and he was planning one on his 87th birthday. He loved the people of communities in which he lived and it shows through their remembrance of him. Bill was a wonderful father and grandfather and in turn we loved him.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother and his wife Shirley. He is survived by his sister Janet Cunningham of Plano, Texas, his daughter Cindy Shaw and her husband Jeff, Pilot Rock, Oregon, his son Terry Dawes and his wife Debra of Spokane and his special friend of 13 years, Gwendoline Gerow. There are 8 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 1 great, great-grandchildren.

There will be a private family service held at the Mountain View Cemetery of Walla Walla, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Shriners Children’s Hospital or Waitsburg Presbyterian Church through the Professional Funeral Director and Crematory, 2112 S. 2nd Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362.