Object: Family Story from Evelyn Dobson

Date

1970-01-01

Dr. John William Dobson (born 1902 Petite Riviere, NS, died 1949 Halifax, NS, Canada) was a

dentist in Halifax. He was Fred and Flora Dobson's eldest (and only) son.

He went into

dentistry because when his father died, he saw the need to help put his sisters through

university, and was able to step into his father's practice with all his equipment. He, like his

father, loved to play sports and to drive cars. He only lived 47 years; he died of a heart attack

He was both the son and father of Fred William Dobson (see above and below), and also the

father of Julia and John.

Phyllis Raymond Hilton (born 1904 Yarmouth, NS, died 1997 Yarmouth, NS, Canada) was

John William Dobson's wife. She was a science graduate of Dalhousie University.

When John died she was left with three children Julia, Fred and John) to support, and with

their help she put them all through university. She then began studying on her own, and re-

ceived first a Master of Science and then, at age 60, a PhD in microbiology. She loved music.

She sang beautifully and played the piano; she made sure that her love of music was passed

on to her children. She also loved nature, and acted as the Editor of the NS Bird Society

Newsletter for more than a decade.