He was employed by Del Monte Corporation for 28 years as personel manager.

He was born on October 11, 1911 in Broughton, a son of Arthur Dawes and Nella Porter Dawes. He was first married to Ruth Porter, she died in 1962; he later married Ruby Keen McAllister and she died in 1996.

Surviving are two daughters, Nancy Wasson of Mendota, and Linda and husband Ken Pope of Rockford; two sons, Tom and wife Jeanne and Larry Davis, both of Spokane, Washington; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and one sister, Helen Barnes of Eldorado.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, March 29, 2000 at the Merritt Funeral Home. Rev. Dale Dykstra officiated. Graveside services were held on Friday, March 31, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. at the Douglass Cemetery, with local visitation held at the Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado on Thursday, March 30, 2000.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and the Earlville Golf Club.

He was preceded in death by two wives, parents, and two brothers.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Lung Association.