Joan L. (Allen) Dawson

Joan L. Allen Dawson, 78 of Westfield, passed away April 9, 2018. She was born in Indianapolis on October 13,1939 to the late Victor and Margaret (Peg) Dietz Wilson.

Her father, Victor Wilson passed when Joan was only 18 months old. Margaret married Floyd (Bud) Allen, who adopted Joan at 7 years of age and was her Daddy for life. She was a 1957 graduate of Westfield High School and attended Purdue University. In her earlier years, Joan loved riding horses with her friends and was active in Rural Youth where she met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Dawson. They were married in Union Chapel Church and began their lives together in Indianapolis working on the family farm. Joan was a farmer’s daughter and a farmer’s wife. Joan also worked at L.S. Ayres in Indianapolis, for Westfield schools for 18 years, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and as an Avon Lady.  She was a founding member for Open Door of Westfield Washington Township and loved volunteering there. She dearly cherished her family and relished spending time with her sister, kids, and grandchildren. She treasured traveling, scrapbooking, gardening, baking, and clubs including being a 50-year member of Friendly Eagles Extension Homemakers, 4-H, Red Hat Club, and Euchre Club. A life-long resident of Washington Township/Hamilton County, Joan and Dick lived on a mini farm on 161st Street then later in life moved to South Street in Westfield.

Joan and Dick Dawson were blessed to be able to celebrate 51 years of marriage before he passed in 2011.

In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Dick) Dawson, and step-brother, Hubert Allen.

Survivors include sister, Becky Allen-Carrithers (Terry Carrithers); son, David Lee Dawson; daughter, Deborah Presley-Christensen (Carl Christensen) and eight grandchildren, Nick Dawson (Abbigail Dawson), Taylor Dawson Meese (Matt Meese), Eric Presley (Alexandra Presley), Morgan, Luke, and Lauren Presley, and Hope and Brooke Christensen.

Family and friends will gather on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 9 am in Christ United Methodist Church, of which Joan was a member, with A Celebration of Life Service following at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be directed to Christ United Methodist Church, 318 N. Union Street, Westfield, IN 46074 or the National Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. Envelopes will be available at the church.

Arrangements and care entrusted to Bussell Family Funerals, Westfield-Carmel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan L. (Allen) Dawson, please visit our floral store.