Funeral service for 1SG (Retired) Pancho Villa Dawson will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 22, 2017 in  Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will follow in Post Cemetery, Fort Sill.

First Sergeant Pancho Villa Dawson, age 91, Lawton, passed away Saturday, September 16th, 2017 at McMahon Tomlinson Nursing Home after a brief illness.  He was born September 9, 1926, in Lenoir County, North Carolina to Fred and Lucy Dawson.  He married Elisabeth M. Lipp on February 13, 1952 in Aschaffenburg, Germany.  He was a combat soldier, successful businessman and a loving husband and father.

He began his military career during World War II and retired from the Army with 21 years of service in 1966. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict.  He served in the Pacific & European Theaters as well several stateside duty stations.  He was awarded the following medals: American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Contact Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal & World War II Occupation Medal.

He has been a Lawton residence since his retirement in 1966.  Following his military career, he owned and operated several businesses to include, Texaco and Skelly service stations, a dry cleaners and a liquor store.  He later worked at the Fort Sill Package Store from 1981 to 1989 and afterward, he was a volunteer at the VA Clinic in Lawton for numerous years.

First Sgt Dawson was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 56, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5263, and the National Association for Uniformed Services Chapter.

He is survived by two sons and daughters in law, Jeff and Debbie Dawson and Jerry and Tonya Dawson, and a son in law, Tony LaSorsa.  Five grandchildren and their spouses, Matthew Dawson, Hillary & Franco Miller, Justin & Moriah West, Josh & Christina Dawson and Andrew LaSorsa.  Four great-grandchildren, Colten and Clayton West, Ryleigh Miller and Aubrey Dawson. Siblings Pat & Grace Dawson, Melba & Bowie Martin, Herbert & Carolyn Dawson, Thomas & Rosalie Dawson, Kay Lockey, Joshua & Bettie Dawson and Grace & Joe Waters.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Elisabeth, of 65 years, a son, James Patrick Dawson, a daughter, Julie Marie LaSorsa, his parents, Fred and Lucy Dawson and brothers Kenneth Dawson, Fred Dawson Jr., sisters Shirley Dawson & Frances West.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Elisabeth Dawson or the Muscular Dystrophy Association in memory of Julie LaSorsa.An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com