George Lawrence Dobson

George Lawrence Dobson, known to most as “Pete”, died on June 13, 2024 at the age of 96 in the Woodstock Hospital after a very brief illness. 

 He was born in Ethel, Ontario, the son of Blanche (nee McKee) and Quest Dobson. He is survived by his wife Dorothy (nee Willauer), his daughter Sally (Frank), his son Mark (Lori), grandson Jesse Gibbons (Emily) as well as step-children Beth Delicata and Russel Willauer (Mary), and step grandchildren Steven, Jason, Joslyn and Kaitlyn, and by many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, his first wife Jean (nee Wilton), two infant children, his brother William and sister-in-law Helen.

Pete grew up on a farm near Ethel, and after working in a grocery store in Clinton for a year, purchased a grocery store in Wroxeter in 1946. The family moved to the Listowel area in 1968 when Pete sold the store and he joined the Great-West Life Assurance Company as an Agent. He was a successful Agent earning many awards and attended conventions in a number of interesting locations leading to an interest in travelling. When he retired, he and Jean moved to Port Elgin. They were involved in the communities in which they lived, played bridge, square danced, collected antiques and travelled abroad. 

After Jean died in 1990, he married Dorothy and they enjoyed many travels together as well as square dancing, collecting antiques and wintering in Arizona and Florida. In 2018, Pete and Dorothy moved to a retirement residence in Woodstock.  He became known as George in Woodstock.  He continued to cope well for a number of years, despite struggling with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Crohn’s disease. Dorothy, with some assistance from visiting personal support workers, cared for him until he required the professional care of a long-term care residence in October 2023.  Pete was industrious, hard-working, enjoyed people, took pride in his property, loved to dance and have fun…and be on time!!

The family would like to express their appreciation for the excellent and compassionate care he received at Woodingford Lodge and the Woodstock Hospital.

 A short Service will be held on Tuesday July 9, 2024, at 2 p.m., at the Wroxeter Community Hall, 1094 Centre Street, Wroxeter, Ontario.   Interment at the Wroxeter Cemetery.  There will be a social time with refreshments at the Hall.   

If you wish to make a memorial donation, please consider the Alzheimer’s Society, (https://alzheimer.ca) Woodstock Hospital Foundation (https://whfoundation.ca/waysto-give/) or Woodingford Lodge, Woodstock (a cheque can be sent to Woodingford Lodge, 300 Juliana Drive, Woodstock, Ontario, N4V 0A1).

Wareing Cremation Services, 225 Norwich Ave., Woodstock was entrusted with Final Arrangements. Your messages of remembrance and condolence may be shared here at wareingcremation.ca