Roland Dawson

Roland is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pearl (Marley) Dawson; step-daughter Carol (Martin) Jehu and her husband Robert Jehu; granddaughter Erica (Jehu) Hoag and her husband David Hoag; great-granddaughter Annika Hoag; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was the son of the late George and Marie (Caron) Dawson and brother of the late Leo R. Dawson.

Born and raised in New Bedford, Roland was a World War II Navy Veteran. He served aboard the USS Colahan, a destroyer that was part of the Pacific Fleet that participated in the surrender of Emperor Hirohito in Japan, ending the war on September 2, 1945.

Roland worked for 35 years as a custodian in the New Bedford school system.

His Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11:00am in St. Joseph-St. Therese Church, Acushnet Ave., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

For tributes and online registration: www.rock-funeralhome.com