William B. Dawson

William Burton Dawson Age 87, Orlando Florida passed away on October 08, 2017 of heart failure. Bill always said if it wasn't for Cuba he wouldn't be here. His mother Nell Datson was from Youngstown, Ohio and his father was from Toledo, Ohio. Both families had ranches in Victoria De Las Tunas Cuba where they met. The Datsons sold their ranch and moved to Orlando in the early 1900's and started Datson Dairy. Bill's dad went into the business with the Datson Brothers and the Dairy was sold in 1951 to Bordens. Bill was a lifelong resident of Orlando and he loved Florida and being around the rivers and lakes Florida offered. He learned to sail at a very young age of 10 on Lake Conway where his dad was Commodore of the Orlando Yacht Club. Bill won a Moth Skippers race at age 11 years old against the men of the Yacht Club. Bill's family moved to Lake Conway and Bill and his friends began getting involved in water skiing and several different water sports and power boating.

In his later years he served with the 5th Regiment Combat Team, 53rd Counter Fire in the Korean War. When Bill returned home after the war he got to continue his passion of exploring the different waterways and rivers in Florida. He was very lucky when a girl from Kentucky came to work as a telephone operator for Orange Buick where Bill happened to be working and she became the love of his life. Barbara enjoyed boating, camping & fishing even though she swam like a rock. Bill's father-in-law Homer got him interested in fishing which he enjoyed the rest of his life. He loved vacationing, boating & fishing at Key Colony Beach in the Florida Keys with his family and friends. In Bills later years he enjoyed playing cards & poker with his family members on the weekends. Bill also loved car racing, NASCAR and watching football, especially college football.

Bill wants us all to remember that death is part of life, don't mourn but enjoy the time we had together with family and friends.

Bill is preceded in death by his father Robert B. Dawson and mother Nell Datson Dawson and brother Robert B. Dawson Jr. He is survived by his wife Barbara Ann, Daughters Keelee Dawson Eden, Marnell Panter and husband Bobby Joe, Grandsons, Kyle Dawson Eden and Brandon Lyle Panter all from Orlando.

Visitation and Services are Saturday October 14th at Newcomer Funeral Home East Orlando Chapel, 895 S. Goldenrod Road, Orlando Florida 32822.

Please come casual & comfortable.

Viewing 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Pastor Tom Hensley is officiating.

Service is at 12:00 pm noon at Funeral Home then proceeding to graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery, 1603 Greenwood Street, Orlando, FL 32801.