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Verne Lewis Dawson, long time resident of our area, passed away on August 13, 2021 at the age of 91.

Born in Fairbury, IL, Verne joined the army at age 17, first serving with valor in the Korean War as well as in Vietnam. He met his beloved wife Biddie at the Woolworth’s soda fountain counter in Huntsville, AL while working at the Rocket Research Center. After marrying, the young couple lived in Yokohama, Japan as part of the post war occupation. In 1955 he and Biddie moved to Heidelberg, Germany where they lived with their young family for three years before returning to the U.S.A.

He began working for the Federal Aviation Administration in 1968, first in Alaska where he brought his family of two children, later adding a third. Verne was the man in the tower in Dothan, AL and then for many years at the Greenville / Spartanburg airport where he safely guided many an airplane and traveler from the heights of flight to terra firma.

Verne and Biddie, who passed two years ago, lived in Tryon as well as Saluda since 1980 where Biddie and he owned and operated Biddie’s Antiques. His infinite cheerfulness, reliability and cache of funny jokes will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by three children, Amelia of Cheraw, SC, Verne of Saluda and New York, and Victor of Charlotte. 

Submitted by Verne Dawson II