ROCHELLE — Dawn Darlin (Bozee) Waltrip, 77, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon.

She was born on May 16, 1944 in Elmhurst, the daughter of George and Esther (Wolf) Bozee. She married David R. Waltrip on Oct. 1, 1966 in Arlington Heights. Dave and Dawn would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on Oct. 1.

Dawn started her career in banking, working for the First National Bank and Trust of Barrington. She later started working for Schaumburg School District 54 as a teacher’s aide at Anne Fox Elementary School. Dawn continued that passion of working with children and helping others as a high school aide for Malta High School. She later worked for the DeKalb School District and retired in 2012 as a health aid.

Dawn loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed the many family vacations and trips all while journaling about the adventures. Dawn was very creative. She enjoyed expressing her artistic side through drawings and took any opportunity she could to sketch or share her talent. She had a way with words and was always coming up with fun poems or funny little puns. She loved her puzzle books and brain teasers and always had a puzzle book by her side.

Dawn loved volunteering and spending her time helping others. She served on the Women’s Auxiliary board for Hanover Park Baseball Association and helped maintain and staff the concession stands. Dawn loved her sports and could be found cheering on the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Blackhawks and the NIU Huskies. She was an avid bowler and was a part of many different bowling teams in various leagues. Dawn loved to spend time with family and friends and dearly loved her seven dogs she had over the years.

Dawn was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, David, and her brother, Gary Bozee.

Dawn is survived by her two daughters: Denise Waltrip of Gilbert, Arizona and Darci Waltrip of Rochelle; sister, Sandy Kirk of Wauconda and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th St., Rochelle. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28 at the Unger Horner Funeral Home with Pastor Joy Alsop officiating.  Burial will follow at the Lawnridge Cemetery.

Services will be live streamed on the Unger-Horner Facebook page. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.  Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.