WALDOBORO — Esther Frances Dawson, 82, of Waldoboro, passed away on July 22, 2016, at the Knox Center.

Esther was born March 11, 1934, to Gustave Lawson and Elsie (Howard) Lawson. She attended a one-room local school on Route 220 and was a graduate of Waldoboro High School in 1951. She went on to marry John Dawson Jr. on June 14, 1952, and they had three children together. John passed away Jan. 18, 1978.

Esther was a hard worker and she was a laborer for 30 years for Sylvania light bulb manufacturing, where she made many enduring friendships.

She met her second husband, Douglas Wallace, and they were married on April 20, 1984. She spent many happy years with him.

Esther enjoyed being outdoors and especially enjoyed camping, 4-wheeling and snowmobiling. Her true joy was being at camp with her grandkids and having fun with them. She was also an avid traveler. She traveled to Hawaii, Mexico, Texas, Branson Miss., California, West Virginia and New York.

Her family and friends remember her most for her warm humor and generous heart.

She was also an active member within the community. She was a member of the Maple Grange Hall, the Waldoboro Historical Society and also the Sno Crawlers Snowmobiling club.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, John Sprague Dawson Jr.; her son, John Dawson III; her daughter, Candace Blood; her brother, Robert Lawson; her mother, Elsie Lawson; her father, Gustave Lawson; her second husband, Douglas Wallace; her aunt, Ednah Howard; along with her two close friends, Charlotte and Cynthia.

Surviving are her daughter, Kendra Dawson of Waldoboro and her companion, Dana Teel; her granddaughter, Jennifer, her husband, Lance, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret Roberts of Thomaston; her granddaughter, Hilary Dawson and her partner, Angie Hocut, of Augusta; her grandson, Jonathan Blood of Portland; her granddaughter, Kasey Blood and her son, Mason Blood of Whitefield; her brother, Lyndon Lawson and his wife, Lynette, of Waldoboro; her brother, David Lawson and his wife, Barbara, of Brewer; her aunt, Shirley and her husband, Orville Swett, of Little Sebago; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at Hall's of Waldoboro, with a burial to follow at Levensaler Cemetery in Washington. The Rev. Tom Rawley will be officiating.

Hall's of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.