Charles Gates Dawes, Ii

Charles Gates Dawes, II

With faith in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, Charlie Dawes left this world and the lives of many in better condition than he found it on the morning of Friday August 30, 2024. Born in Columbus, Ohio he passed away peacefully at the age of 89 in his home, surrounded by love. He was preceded in death by his father Dana, mothers Eleanor and Susie, sister Elizabeth (Roz), brothers Donovan and William (Alice). He leaves Jeannette, his wife of 63 years, brothers Dana (Kathy) and David, children Chip and Susan Dawes (Juan) Villarreal, and the Jeff Kline family, Jeff, Angelique, Connor, Patrick and James, his grandchildren of the heart. Family was so important to him that he extended that status to large numbers of entirely unrelated people.

He grew up in Evanston Illinois, served in the US Army, and was a graduate of Marietta College where he met Jeannette. A lifelong educator and master of many arts, Charlie taught World History, Grammar, and Speech first in New Philadelphia and then in Cuyahoga Falls, collectively for 38 years. He shared his love of Art and World History at Bolich and Cuyahoga Falls High Schools. He was one of the few people in the world who loved 9th graders and was happy to say so. People who knew how fast he was with a joke, a story or an important yet irrelevant fact were always surprised to learn that due to his having dyslexia before it was understood, he did not learn to read until he was 12. That hurdle surmounted, he read extensively in speculative fiction, art history, world politics, religion, mysteries and just about everything else. He enjoyed sharing the life stories of his very historical family, many of whom played pivotal roles in U.S. history. As a member of Northminster Presbyterian church, he was a church elder, sang in choir, governed in Presbytery, and ate with the Brown Baggers. From a long line of Lincoln Republicans, Charlie regrets not having lived long enough to cast his vote for Kamala Harris, who is not a felon.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Memorial Fund of Northminster Presbyterian Church (104 Portage Trail Ext, Cuyahoga Falls OH 44223) or The Dawes Arboretum (7770 Jacksontown Rd SE, Newark OH 43056) in his memory. We also ask that you go out and have a nice meal, fuss over a cat, feed or watch the birds, listen to Dianna Ross or your favorite folk singers, learn a new skill, recommend a good book to a friend, research something interesting even if it’s only interesting to you, play a role-playing game of your choice, or simply hug a loved one and remember him.

Memorial services will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 104 Portage Trail Ext, Cuyahoga Falls OH 44223 September 14, 2024. 10:00 visitation, 11:00 church service followed by fellowship in Atkin’s Hall.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Falls Chapel, 1907 23rd Street, Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44223.