Charles Dobson

Charles Dobson Greenville, SC Charles Daniel Dobson, Sr., 90, of Greenville, died Thursday, May 28th, 2009. Born in Greenville, September 15, 1918, he was a son of the late Otis Lorenzo and Nellie Jeffreys Dobson. He attended Furman University and graduated from Clemson University in the ROTC Program with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He retired in 1986 after 47 years of service as an engineer for Southern Railway. After retirement, he co-founded Dobson Towing, Inc., with his youngest son, Brian and was active in the business for more than ten years. Charles was a third generation engineer and was one of the last surviving steam engineers. Steam engine 1401, which he and his father ran is now in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. As an engineer, Mr. Dobson was selected to carry the body of President Franklin Roosevelt, through Greenville, to Warm Springs, GA. for burial. He also was selected to carry President Harry S. Truman through Greenville on his campaign Whistle Stop Tour. During the 1950’s, he ran the first diesel locomotive from Greenville to Salisbury, NC. Later in his career, he was selected to carry Lady Bird Johnson through Greenville while she campaigned for her husband. He had a strong work ethic which he passed on to his family and which was evident by his never missing a day of work. He was a devoted husband with unbounded love for his wife of sixty-nine years, Carolyn Garrett Dobson. Surviving in addition to his wife are his children: Sandra Thompson and her late husband, Ronny of Easley, C. Dan Dobson and his wife, Karen of Greenville, Darryl L. Dobson and his wife, Deborah of Simpsonville, Lindsay A. Dobson and his wife, Ann of Greenville, Vicki Mixon of Greenville and Brian R. Dobson and his wife, Carolyn of Simpsonville; 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends Saturday, May 30th, from 6:00 until 8:00 p. m. at The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive. Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 31st, at 3:30 p. m. at The Mackey Mortuary. Burial will be in Springwood Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff of NHC Healthcare of Greenville for their undivided attention and support. For online registry and obituaries, visit www.mackeymortuary.com