Lilburn Ira Dawson, Jr. (Bub) was released from the grip of Lewy Body Dementia at the age of 75 on July 28, 2014, at home in Springfield, VA. He died with Rosemary, his wife of 48 years, and their daughter, Alyce, at his side.

Lilburn was born in Evanston, IL, on April 19, 1939, to Lilburn Ira Dawson and Marion Mitchell Dawson. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Gerber Dawson; daughter, Alyce Marie Dawson (Mark Schnabel); grandchildren, Dawson and Sydney Schnabel; sister, Patricia Buggs; brother, David Dawson (Jennifer); sister, Marilyn Brown (Derrick); sister-in-law, Carrie, and nieces and nephews: Denise, Brian, Leslie, Tiffany, Felicia, Joey, and William Jr. and their children.

Lilburn was pre-deceased by his father, Lilburn Ira Dawson; his mother, Marion Mitchell Dawson; and his brothers, William and George Dawson.

Consistent with his advance directive, Lilburn’s brain was donated to the Brain Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University for research on Lewy Body Dementia and other degenerative brain diseases. His remains were cremated and inurned at the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on April 30, 2015 at 10:00 am. Family and friends attended the ceremony at the Columbarium which was presided over by a military chaplain.

Friends and family can make memorial donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) in his honor and memory to advance research, awareness, and education about this insidious disease. Honor/memorial gifts can be made securely online (https://donate.lbda.org/) or mailed to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047 (Ironic that the LBDA is in Lilburn, GA.)

Lilburn loved to tell the story of how he met and courted Rosemary Gerber Dawson. Their relationship spanned more than 52 years including three years while he was in the Air Force in Germany and she was at Northwestern, and it weathered the vicissitudes that come with 48 years of marriage. They married in 1966, the year before the US Supreme Court struck down the anti-miscegenation (sic) law that made interracial marriage a crime in Virginia, the state in which they lived for the past year.

Despite the odds and the challenges they faced, they persevered because they were stubborn – and in love. They lived together in Los Angeles, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.

In a way, they renewed their commitment shortly before his death. Lilburn asked for a ring that Rosemary had given him decades before which she had put away for safe keeping. When it wouldn’t fit on his finger, she put it on hers and he nodded and mouthed, “Yes.” Forever and then some.

Lilburn kidded about two things when Alyce was born: Her birth interrupted Monday night football, and “Jeb” (never was going to be a real name) was a girl (those were the days expectant parents had to wait to know the baby’s gender). From November 16, 1970, Lilburn loved being Lycee’s daddy.

He was a house husband for several years in Los Angeles before it was in vogue, leading Alyce to tell friends, “My dad used to be my mom.”
He was one proud papa sharing his pride in Alyce from the time she was born, through her academic achievements, her passion for skiing, her professional accomplishments, her marriage to Mark Schnabel, and the birth of their twins.

He and Alyce played at the park, took Flamenco classes, were movie extras in a Sean Connery film (Cuba), Volksmarched, and did so much more together often without Rosemary who taught many evenings and weekends.  Lilburn loved to shop for and with Alyce; he was the one who went with her for her first prom dress. A highlight of his life was taking Alyce from Germany to Stanford for her freshman year.

As proud as he was of her growing up and into adulthood, he appreciated even more what a multi-dimensional woman she became: respected and advanced in her career while managing a household and children including through Mark’s two deployments to Afghanistan while coping with a disease that remains unknown to many – MS.

Lilburn also was gratified by Alyce and Mark’s dedication as foster parents before Dawson and Sydney were born providing a home to several children for extended times and others for shorter durations and being awarded Foster Parents of the Year in Arlington County. Lilburn was fond of three foster kids: Kitara, Victoria, and Tinsu.

Lilburn was happy to spend the last 14 months seeing Alyce every day, and knowing how much she loved him as she held his hand day and night during his final days.

Being a grandpa to twins with the special honor of having a namesake in Dawson filled out his life. During Sydney and Dawson’s first two years, frequent visits between Texas and Virginia and almost daily Skyping were nearly enough to develop and maintain a relationship. They loved to visit Texas especially because of Grandpa and Grandma Ro Ro’s pool.

When Lilburn could no longer travel, the move to Virginia allowed them time to get to know each other. The last year spent in daily interaction with Dawson and Sydney gave him great joy. They always brought a smile to his face, even when he was having a bad day. Dr. Sydney had a wonderful bedside manner and took good care of Grandpa. They would come to tell him about their day at school or other activity, show him something that they had done, bring him something special, or just hang out watching TV or playing an electronic game in his vicinity.

Grandpa will always be remembered with great love by his grandchildren.

Some will remember Lilburn as Bub -- the person who loved his family and was among six stair-step siblings (except for Marilyn who was born when Lilburn was 14).

As the oldest child of Marion and Lilburn who worked long hard hours, he was expected to be a role model for Pat, Billy, David, George, and Marilyn - and keep his clothes clean for the next in line. His parents instilled values that lasted his lifetime.

One of his great joys was hosting his parents, Aunt Alyce, and Uncle Jeff in California (1968) where his father took his one and only airplane trip from L.A. to Catalina Island; once was more than enough for Daddy!

Trips with his mother through Europe allowed him to thank her in a small way for the sacrifices she had made for the family for so many years. He loved to tell stories about her delight in holding more than one million Italian Lire, of when they were in five countries in one day (England, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, and Germany), and of her willingness to try all types of food (keeping what she didn’t eat in her infamous plastic baggie in her purse).

Visits from Pat, Marilyn, David, and George to Los Angeles and from Pat and David to Europe were important since they were geographically separated most of his adult life. He had fond memories of Pat and Marilyn’s road trips with him and Rosemary to San Diego, Tijuana, along the coast, and to San Francisco before Alyce was born. He and David rekindled their close relationship when David lived with Rosemary and Lilburn in Los Angeles – a closeness that preserved through his lifetime and was reconfirmed with David’s recent week-long visit to Springfield in June, 2014.

Lilburn enjoyed sharing European experiences with Pat and David. Pat loved the adventure but not so much the different foods. Lilburn and David took a whirlwind drive through Germany to Berlin and back to try to squeeze in as much as he could in a short time.

Visits from David and Jennifer, from Pat, and from David, Pat, Marilyn, and Derrick to Seguin, Texas, gave them an opportunity to reminisce about childhood experiences and make new memories. Lilburn savored celebrating his 72nd birthday at Ruth Chris Steak House with David, Pat, Marilyn, Derrick, and Rosemary (he loved an outstanding steak or prime rib).

Lilburn and the entire family lost brothers Billy and George much too soon, but the three of them should have a good time at their reunion.

Lilburn treasured his friendships with some people who he’d like to have mentioned. He maintained a lifelong relationship with his boyhood friend, Jerome St. Clair, who called to check in on Lilburn often.

Even after moving from California, Lilburn counted Ed and Richard (d.) Riley and Howard Tobar Mayo among his closest cohorts.

In Europe, Jacque Brown, Johnny Dates, and Lilburn shared much including lovely times with their wives Deenie, Gudrun, and Rosemary. Once after the three of them won the German lottery, they took their wives to one of the nicest restaurants in the area for a wonderful evening.

Lilburn loved to host friends at home where they sat for hours eating, drinking, sharing stories, listening to music, laughing, and enjoying camaraderie. He also had fun with this special circle of friends at fests and other events throughout Europe.

In Los Angeles, Polly Kenerson, Ted Kimbrough, Arna and Paul Munford, and Louis and Suzanne Wenzlaff shared many everyday and special occasions with Lilburn, Rosemary, and Alyce - including a family vacation to Club Med in Playa Blanca, Mexico, with the Munfords and Wenzlaffs. Lilburn had so much fun during the two times Paul and Arna traveled with him and Rosemary in Europe, including once with their beautiful daughter, Alison. He loved to recall visits from Ted and Pat Kimbrough with trips to Paris and Munich.

In Europe, Beth and Sam Leebruggen-Kalberg were also colleagues of Lilburn and Rosemary and remained lifelong friends across the miles from Virginia to the Netherlands. Kathy and Bill (d) Spruill-Dudley were also dual colleagues and friends. Before their move to Munich, Bill and "Burn were "running" buddies, and Kathy was largely responsible for getting Lilburn's foot in the door at Wang Laboratories in Frankfurt. Videos show one reason why these friends were so special: Beth and Kathy have infectious laughs.

Lilburn and Rosemary appreciated the special friends who supported them through their Lewy Body Dementia journey. They could always count on Jeanne Butler and Rick Miller to take time to help in so many ways including Rick serving as plumber, electrician, and general handyman, and Jeanne always ready and able to boost spirits. This friendship spanned more than 35 years of great times traveling together, sharing holidays and any day at each others homes, raising children who remain friends, and sharing abiding love and trust. Lilburn enjoyed the many times spent with Rick and Jeanne's son Nathan, his wife Wendy, and their sons Owen and Anton in Texas.

Carolyn May and Ron Waters often packed up a goodie basket in Austin to bring to Seguin. Lilburn enjoyed seeing Carolyn's children, Katy and Alex, grow into adults and meet Katy's daugter, Natasha. They had been a part of his life in Europe for many years.

Anita and Chuck Roberts called from Germany to check in and offer emotional support from a distance. Lilburn's friendship with Nene went back to 1984, and he was thrilled to be a part of Nene and Chuck's wedding in Ribe, Denmark, and doted on their daugther, Anna. Trips to their house in Clefmont, France, and travels with them in Provence were among his cherished memories.

Three girls have grown into wonderful women and remained in Lilburn's heart for decades.

Jennifer Kennerson was the first baby to woo Lilburn and continued to do so despite separation of time and distance. Jennifer's mother, Polly, was a close firiend, and her brother, John - who we lost too soon - was Lilburn's god son. One of his greatest pleasures was showing her some of Europe, especially Paris, when she was an adult. He lit up when she appeared with her family in Virginia in 2013 with her husband, Curtis Frailey, and their daughters, Kendall and Chase. He was proud to be called her Uncle Bub.

Rebecca Cappleman Knowles was like a daughter to Lilburn when she and Alyce were friends for more than a decade in Europe, especially the time that she lived with the Dawsons in Eppelheim. After more than 20 years apart, they were reunited when Alyce and Rebecca discovered they live 15 miles from one another. Lilburn was so pleased to get to know Allen and Rebecca's children (Alex, Mikey, Rachel, and Isabella). He was comforted by Rebecca as she kept vigil with him several nights holding his hand during his final days.

Anna Roberts and Lilburn had a mutual admiration society from the time she was an infant in Gemany with her parents Anita and Chuck Roberts, through their time at Owers Farm in Mildenall, England, and their reunion in San Antonio. From trips to their house in Clefmont, travels through the rest of France, camping in the UK, and road trips from Norman to San Antonio, Lilburn doted on Anna. Most recently, he loved the week she spent with him and Rosemary in Seguin, TX.

Many will remember Bub, the athlete, who played basketball for Evanston Township High School, Bethany Junior College (Mankato, MN), Loyola University of Chicago, the Ramstein Rams, the US Military team that won the 1963 Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) championship, and many teams in the US and Europe until 1980.

He also played baseball at ETHS and in the Air Force where he pitched for the championship team in 1964. Later, after tearing his Achilles tendon, he continued as an avid bowler in several leagues per week and accumulated thousands of kilometers walking in Volksmarches in Germany including many marathons.

Lilburn was one of two Black players on the Loyola of Chicago team in an integrated basketball game in New Orleans in 1961 against Loyola of New Orleans (lost 66-64). According to the newspaper, “This was the first activity in any form of sports – amateur, collegiate, or professional – that Negroes (sic) and whites have competed since the Supreme Court ruling of May, 1959, which knocked out the state law pertaining to athletic competition” that was enacted in 1956, the last time a Black played in an integrated contest in LA.

Lilburn enjoyed few things more than a game of double-deck pinochle into the wee small hours with his buddies in Los Angeles and Germany. A close contender was a raucous night of dominoes, slapping the bones on the table and talking trash.

Lilburn was a jazz aficionado from the 50’s on, amassing a collection of thousands of vinyl LPs and CDs. A pilgrimage to the North Sea Jazz Festival was an almost annual event for 20 years. He listened to jazz through his last days.

Not only did he love to listen to music; he loved to dance to it – and he could really dance! From the classic and the pop dances in the US to the polka in Germany and the Flamenco in Spain, he did it all with style. 

Lilburn had a green thumb making indoor plants thrive by talking to them and outdoor flowers grow profusely by constantly fighting off slugs and snails with every remedy other gardeners suggested. He went through a lot of salt and beer.

And, almost everyone knew that he was a lifelong Cubs fan. Despite being thousands of miles away, he rooted for his Cubbies! He often reminisced about getting on the El to go to Wrigley Field with family and friends. Once a Cub fan, always a Cub fan.

Some will recognize Lilburn, the Renaissance man he became after moving to Europe with Rosemary and Alyce in 1978 for one year and staying 25 years. Largely through his insatiable curiosity, his willingness and ability to communicate with people anywhere despite the language barrier, and the knowledge of traveling companions such as Dr. Richard Miller and professors such as Dr. Claire Baker, he became a lover of art (especially Impressionism), architecture, music, theatre, history, and culture.

He documented his study tours to the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries, Stratford upon Avon, London, Paris, Nice, Copenhagen, and Egypt with hours of video now on DVD for his family to view.

Oh, and food and wine! It  was hard - often impossible - to keep him away from Michelin-starred restaurants (the more stars, the better).

Around the world, many will remember Mr. D., who taught computer skills to military personnel and civilians – not only from the U.S. but from host nations throughout Europe. He was known for his patience, his rather corny sense of humor, and his ability to relate to enlisted soldiers, sailors, and airmen as well as General officers, counting Gen. (ret.) Colin Powell as one of his students.

As European Director of Education and Training for Wang Laboratories and consultant to several training groups, Lilburn made learning how to use computers fun for employees in Germany, England, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, and Israel. He’d come home with stories such as about the German woman who had marmalade in the printer – marmalade being jam in Deutsch.

Through years of medical treatments for Lewy Body Dementia and other chronic and acute conditions in physicians’ offices, hospitals, skilled nursing, rehabilitation facilities, home health care, and at home hospice, Lilburn was a courageous, non-complaining patient who kept his dignity intact through it all. He always greeted doctors, nurses, aides, and therapists with his smile, even when all he could manage was a weak one, and thanked them for helping him.

Although he had more than his share of less than caring and less than competent doctors, he was blessed with some very compassionate and capable physicians, nurses, aides, and therapists. He and Dr. Robert Parker, his geriatrician and primary care physician at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, developed a special bond. Dr. Parker always took time with Lilburn and Rosemary and was the first knowledgeable person to diagnose and treat Lilburn’s LBD. Other doctors associated with UTHSC-SA and the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit were also skilled and considerate.

Many nurses and aides provided Lilburn with excellent hands-on care, especially those in the ACE unit and the Mission Skilled Nursing at Air Force Village in San Antonio. He was particularly fond of Lily Ramos, Ally Phipps, and Ronda Mills, nurses at the Mission and Aleisha, nurse at the ACE unit. Because they worked with Lilburn for 100 days in 2012, he’d want mention of the CNAs at the Mission: Angie Martin, Sherry Woodard, Matt Saxton, and Sally Ponce, as well as the physical, occupational, and speech therapists.

Lilburn was blessed to have Catie Loymeyer Moerbe provide volunteer physical therapy activities at his home during 2012 while she was in college before entering the physical therapy doctoral program at UT-San Antonio. She was a breath of fresh air, and Lilburn loved to hear her stories about horses and dogs. Because of her special communication skills, she got Lilburn to do exercises when at first he resisted.

Since 2010, Lilburn needed increasing care from in-home caregivers to be able to stay at home with Rosemary and most recently with Alyce, Dawson, and Sydney while Mark has been deployed to Afghanistan. It is not easy to find skilled, experienced, kind people. Lilburn was fortunate to have three such individuals.

Mary Sifuentes brought sunshine into the house in Seguin, Texas, as well as years of experience in caring for the elderly. Although he fired her repeatedly (always kept his sense of humor), Lilburn adored Mary. Her family also embraced Lilburn and Rosemary. Mary accompanied Lilburn from TX to VA to help him adjust to his new surroundings. She, Rosemary, and Mark have many funny stories of their RV drive with Mark at the wheel (which Dawson and Sydney still ask to hear).

Deana Landrum provided care for Lilburn for a year in Springfield, VA. There is no person more meticulous about safe, gentle, and appropriate care. She knew what he’d want to watch on TV, the sections of the newspaper he’d want to read, what he liked to eat and drink, and how to keep him comfortable. She also took the initiative to assist Rosemary and Alyce with household chores. She started his day with a smile!

Venas B. covered the hours after Deana left until bed time. Lilburn always greeted Venance with a hand shake. It was beneficial for Lilburn to have some male companionship and he bantered with Venance often. Venance sensed what Lilburn needed in the evening which could be a difficult time for him, made sure that he ate, took his medications, and got to bed comfortably. He, too, helped with household tasks willingly.

Finally, the staff of Capital Caring Hospice, especially KariJo Fleming, Lilburn's nurse, provided support not only to him but to his entire family during his last eight months so that he could remain at home surrounded by his loved ones.

“The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around.... Throughout history, tender loving care has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing” (Dr. Larry Dossey). Lilburn was fortunate to have lots of TLC by people who treated Lilburn, the person, not just his diseases.

Raised in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church at the Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston, IL., Lilburn maintained his abiding faith in God. During his final days, he found comfort in the 23rd Psalm.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths For His Name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
For you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord My whole life long.