Dawn Wagner Wallin

Dawn Wagner Wallin passed away on January 17, 2024.  She was born in Lancaster, PA on 12/5/1951 to Emory & Kathryn Wagner. She grew up in Kirkwood where her father had a general store, was Justice of the Peace & eventually became a well-known realtor in southern Lancaster Co. Dawn accepted Jesus as her Lord & Savior as a young teen at the Little Britain Presbyterian Church. Dawn graduated from Solanco HS in 1969 & was 1st runner up in the Miss Solanco & Miss Lancaster Co. Pageants, & 2nd runner up in the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant. She directed & coached the contestants in the Miss Solanco Pageant for many years. 

Dawn graduated from Eastern Baptist College in 1973 where she met her first husband, William Avis Jr., who started Avis Insurance Agency in Quarryville. Dawn interned for Larry Kane on Channel 6 News. One of her first jobs was as a Marketing Executive with Fondren & Miller Advertising. She also wrote & sold advertising for Doneckers & Shank Bros., among others. Dawn eventually became the Quality Control Manager at Diversified Printing Co. in Atglen, PA. Dawn became a young widow with 2-year-old daughter, Meredith, when Bill died a sudden & unexpected death. 

Dawn began dance lessons at Arthur Murray Dance Studio where she met Rich, who asked her to dance. Following their first date, Dawn proclaimed, “I’m going to marry that man!” Little did Rich know he had just met his life partner. Rich & Dawn were married on 5/16/87, and Rich adopted Meredith on 7/28/87. 

Dawn had quite the green thumb which presented in her vast array of house plants & beautifully manicured garden. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church where she played the organ and sang in the choir. She also acted in numerous dinner theaters & was an accomplished soloist. A few of her favorite hymns were “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” & “In The Garden.” Dawn also enjoyed cooking, housekeeping & reading John Grisham & Mary Higgins Clark thrillers. 

Surviving loved ones include her husband, Richard P. Wallin daughter, Meredith Steidler wife of Calvin, 3 grandchildren, Caden, Bronson & Adalyn Steidler, brother, Dwight Wagner & sister, Bonnie Minnich. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Funeral Service at Grace Baptist Church, 1899 Marietta Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603 on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 11:00 am.  A viewing will be held at the church from 9:30 am until the time of the service.  Interment will follow in Quarryville Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to: The Way Recovery Houses, 3545 Marietta Avenue Suite W.,  Lancaster PA 17601 or to PAC (Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, https://shop.teepasnow.com/product/support-pac-now/).  To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit; www.DeBordSnyder.com