Charles Joseph Dawson

He grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1959. Chuck met the love of his life and married Shirley Wadlington before joining the US Air Force as a Security Police K-9 Handler. As a condition to his first reenlistment, he cross-trained be an Air Traffic Controller and he spent a total of 27 years traveling the globe (which included several remote tours away from his family) in service to our country and he ultimately retired as a Chief Master Sergeant.

After retiring from the US Air Force, Chuck moved his family to Texas and worked 3 years as a contractor in support of the space shuttle mission at NASA. He then worked another 22 years managing the air traffic control center at Ellington Field and eventually retired from Civil Service.

Chuck’s main focus in life was to provide for Shirley and their 3 children. His work ethic was impeccable as evidenced by his accomplishments while in the military and civil service. He was very competitive and enjoyed playing basketball with his sons and was a sports fanatic closely following the Louisville Cardinals, Kentucky Wildcats and other Texas sports teams. He also enjoyed listening to music and meticulously maintaining his sports cars.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Charlene and daughter Debra (“Debbie”) Nicholson.

He is survived by his wife Shirley, sons Charles (“Chuck”) and Michael, daughters-in-law Sylvia and Elisa, son-in-law Darrell Nicholson, 8 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

A visitation for Charles will be held Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 9:00 a.m to 10:00 a.m. at Forest Park East Funeral Home with a funeral service to follow at 10:00 a.m. Committal at Forest Park East Cemetery. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at below for the Dawson family.