1957
Dennis
2011
Dennis "D" Edward Dawkins
April 28, 1957 — March 1, 2011
Dennis "D" Edward Dawkins
As only he could, Dennis "D." Edward Dawkins found a way to combine the loves of his life. He loved God, he loved his country, he loved his fellow servicemen, and he loved his family. Born April 28, 1957, in Kansas City, Kansas, to U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Jack Dawkins and Sharrelian (Sharry) Dawkins, serving his country just came natural to D. After graduating from Shawnee Mission East High School in May 1975, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the end of the Vietnam era. His service in the Marines took him to Europe, Panama, Asia, including two assignments in Lebanon, and north of the Arctic Circle. D. assisted with the relocation of Cambodian refugees, conducted combat exercises with NATO, served as platoon sergeant and completed two sea deployments. In 1986, SSGT Dawkins transferred to the Marines Corps Reserves in Kansas City, Missouri, and later to the Army Reserves in June 2005 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His exemplary service to the Marines and Army earned him the Army Commendation Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, and Humanitarian Service Medal, among many others. D. married Pam Popma in 1979, and the couple was blessed with two awesome children, Shaun Dawkins and Heather Dawkins, both of Lee's Summit, Missouri. The couple divorced and later D. married the love of his life and his best friend, Rhonda Bratton, August 18, 1995. Following his full-time military service, D. held several positions in business and computer fields. Outside work, his passions were his children and their activities, refereeing soccer, and studying history and genealogy. He was a member of the VFW and American Legion and the Rosedale Masonic Lodge. D. passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2011, in Overland Park, Kansas. He is survived by his wife, two children, and parents; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Debbie Dawkins, of Overland Park, Kansas; grandmother, Marian Jenkins, of Brunswick, Missouri; and many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was welcomed in Heaven by his grandfathers, Rev. R. E. Dawkins and Earl Jenkins; grandmothers, Laverne Dawkins and Zella Opal (Cotten) Jenkins; father-in-law, James Bratton; and mother-in-law, Shirley Bratton. Memorial services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 8th, at the First Baptist Church of Overland Park; inurnment will be 10 a.m., Thursday, at Leavenworth Nat'l Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Monday, at the D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Army Emergency Relief Fund, www.aerhq.org donations, memorial donations. Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com. D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66204, PH: 913.648.6224
As only he could, Dennis "D." Edward Dawkins found a way to combine the loves of his life. He loved God, he loved his country, he loved his fellow servicemen, and he loved his family. Born April 28, 1957, in Kansas City, Kansas, to U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Jack Dawkins and Sharrelian (Sharry) Dawkins, serving his country just came natural to D. After graduating from Shawnee Mission East High School in May 1975, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the end of the Vietnam era. His service in the Marines took him to Europe, Panama, Asia, including two assignments in Lebanon, and north of the Arctic Circle. D. assisted with the relocation of Cambodian refugees, conducted combat exercises with NATO, served as platoon sergeant and completed two sea deployments. In 1986, SSGT Dawkins transferred to the Marines Corps Reserves in Kansas City, Missouri, and later to the Army Reserves in June 2005 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His exemplary service to the Marines and Army earned him the Army Commendation Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, and Humanitarian Service Medal, among many others. D. married Pam Popma in 1979, and the couple was blessed with two awesome children, Shaun Dawkins and Heather Dawkins, both of Lee's Summit, Missouri. The couple divorced and later D. married the love of his life and his best friend, Rhonda Bratton, August 18, 1995. Following his full-time military service, D. held several positions in business and computer fields. Outside work, his passions were his children and their activities, refereeing soccer, and studying history and genealogy. He was a member of the VFW and American Legion and the Rosedale Masonic Lodge. D. passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2011, in Overland Park, Kansas. He is survived by his wife, two children, and parents; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Debbie Dawkins, of Overland Park, Kansas; grandmother, Marian Jenkins, of Brunswick, Missouri; and many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was welcomed in Heaven by his grandfathers, Rev. R. E. Dawkins and Earl Jenkins; grandmothers, Laverne Dawkins and Zella Opal (Cotten) Jenkins; father-in-law, James Bratton; and mother-in-law, Shirley Bratton. Memorial services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 8th, at the First Baptist Church of Overland Park; inurnment will be 10 a.m., Thursday, at Leavenworth Nat'l Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Monday, at the D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Army Emergency Relief Fund, www.aerhq.org donations, memorial donations. Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com. D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66204, PH: 913.648.6224
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