Obituary of Beverly Rawson Dibble

Beverly Rawson-Dibble

Satellite Beach, Florida

Beverly Rawson-Dibble, 99, of Satellite Beach Florida Passed away peacefully at Vitas Health Care Facility in Rockledge Florida February 9, 2023. She was born January 20, 1924 in Boothbay Harbor Maine to George Townsend and Dorothy (Reed) Townsend.

She was raised in Portland Maine and graduated from Portland High School. She was a legal secretary for the Maine Railroad. She met Donald H. Rawson through her mother when she was 16 and they started dating when she was 18 when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. This was followed by a distinguishing career as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S Air Force. They were married on March 11, 1944 and traveled the world with six children and added one more child before retiring from Otis Air Force Base in 1964.

They moved to Maine and got in the business of Harness Racing and in 1971 moved to Satellite Beach Florida. She attended Brevard Community College before landing a job working for a local attorney. Donald H. Rawson passed away in 1980.

She was a long time member of the Cocoa Beach Community Church, the Boothbay Historical Society, and Townsend Society Genealogy.  She was an active member of the Military Officers Association, Cape Canaveral Branch, here she received a certificate of appreciation, two awards for outstanding service to aims and goals of CCC, and her support of military and civilian community. While an active member, she met retired Army Colonel John Dibble who she later married. She volunteered for the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and at some of the local school clinics. She was a founding member of the Cape Canaveral Daughters of the American Revolution.

Beverly was predeceased by her parents George and Dorothy Townsend, her siblings Blanche, George, Dee, and Cecil. Her sons Craig and Bruce, great grandson Dylan and Blake, First husband Donald H. Rawson, and second husband John Dibble.

Beverly is survived by her children Donna Woods, Jeff Rawson (J’anne), Valerie Alfano (Artie), Stephen Rawson, Terri Pettit (Rick), 16 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, and two dear cousins, Larry Reed, and Dr. Stephen Reed. She is also survived by John Dibble’s Children John Dibble (Mary Ann), Lee Lipscombe, and Julie Johnson (Mark).

The family would like to thank the nurses who assisted Beverly’s daughter Valerie with her in home care. Cecilia, Alison, Kim, Greta, Desiree, Lora, and Paula

A church service will be held at the Cocoa Beach Community Church on Saturday March 11, 2023 at 10:00 am. Burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to one of Beverly’s favorite organization as follows:

MOAACC Good Deeds Foundation, PO Box 320358, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931-0358.

MOAACC Scholarship Fund, PO Box 254708, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida 32925-4708

Cocoa Beach Community Church, PO Box 320009, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32932-0009.