Dates
Dr. Dwain Freeman Dodson died peacefully on February 8, 2015 at the age of 86 surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in San Angelo, to Floyd C. and Lera Johnson Dodson on December 13, 1928, where he lived his entire life. He became a Christian at the age of 10 and considered this to be the most important event of his life.
Dwain graduated from San Angelo High School in 1946. He earned nine letters in three sports and participated on the state championship football team in 1943. He continued to be an avid sports fan all his life. Dwain also earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
He received a scholarship to play football at the University of Texas, but soon decided to focus on pre-medical classes. He attended Baylor College of Medicine in Houston specializing in Pediatrics. He married his childhood sweetheart, Elsie Ann Gayer, on January 28, 1951. They returned to San Angelo in 1958 where they raised their four children. Dwain practiced Pediatrics here in San Angelo for the next 40 years. He truly loved his patients and parents, and they loved him. After retiring, there were numerous times when he would meet a parent or patient at many different places, and they would greet him with outstretched arms to give him a hug and tell him how much he was appreciated.
Dwain served in numerous children's clinics. In 1962, he was chosen as one of the five Outstanding Young Texans by the Texas Junior Chamber of Commerce. He was noted for his support of youth activities and his work at San Angelo's handicapped children's treatment center. While raising his family here, Dwain enjoyed many activities with them. His favorite activity may have been coaching football to his own boys on the neighborhood teams. The family enjoyed frequent trips to the Paint Rock farm on the Concho River and treasured their summers at their "cozy cabin" in Lake City, Colorado.
Dwain was a devoted disciple of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a long time deacon and taught young adults in Sunday School. He and Elsie were instrumental in starting Southland Baptist in 1978 with Martus Miley as its first pastor. Dwain was also passionately involved in the Stephen Ministry, being commissioned to this ministry in 2004.
After the death of Elsie, Dwain married a family friend, Sybil Brown Sanderford, also widowed, of San Angelo. They were married on Christmas Day, December 25, 1989. Dwain and Sybil were blessed with 25 years together enjoying family, friends, church and travel.
Dwain was a devoted husband, beloved dad, proud granddad/papaw and great-granddad, as well as a faithful friend. He was a man of deep faith and integrity. It could be said of him, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:21 NIV)
Dwain was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elsie Dodson in 1987; and sister, Carolyn Keeble in 1975.
Dwain is survived by his loving wife, Sybil Brown Sanderford Dodson; children, Dwain (Chip) Dodson and wife Susan, David Dodson and wife Debbie, Ann Dodson Phillips and husband Randy, Gay Dodson Sanderford and husband Kelly Sanderford (Sybil's son) and, Max Sanderford (Sybil's son) and wife Leah; grandchildren Steven Dodson and wife Casee, Jenny Dodson, Brittany Sanderford, Jared Sanderford and wife Kenzie, Ben Sanderford, Rachel Phillips, Ruth Phillips, Sarah Phillips and Miriam Phillips, Brooke Sanderford and Bailey Sanderford; great granddaughter Everly Dodson; and his brother, Floyd Dodson and wife Billie; as well as, numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the members of Southland Baptist Church, the Stephen Ministry, and numerous others for your prayers, love and support over the years, and especially during this difficult time.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 12th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Chapel at Johnson's Funeral Home. A celebration of his life will be held at Southland Baptist Church on Friday, February, 13th at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Fairmount Cemetery