Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Arthur Lawrence

Dec. 6, 1906 - July 8, 2008

 

South Bend Tribune 7/10/2008
SOUTH BEND - Arthur Lawrence, 101, was born in Okolona, Mississippi, to the union of Arthur and Elnora (Smith) Lawrence Sr. on December 6, 1906. Arthur served in World War II with the 1692nd Engineering Combat Battalion until he was honorably discharged in 1945, receiving a medal of honor during his service career.

 

He was joined in holy matrimony to Christine Murry in August 1942 in Okolona. They moved to South Bend, IN, in 1951. Arthur was a devoted and loyal husband. He took extra special care of his wife during a long illness preceding her death. During Mr. Lawrence's career he was a gristmill operator turning corn to mill. He was a brick maker at Clay Products and he later became an ice maker at the Okolona Ice House. He attended the V.A. School at the Okolona Junior College learning a trade in masonry. After moving to South Bend, he worked for Penn Central Railroad, now known as Conrail, where he worked for 20 years and retired in 1972. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mrs. Elnora Lawrence and Mr. Arthur Lawrence Sr.; his wife, Christine (Murry) Lawrence; his son, William Horace Lawrence Sr.; two brothers, David and Horace Lawrence; two sisters, Hattie and Irene Lawrence; and a grandson, Jermaine Baker of South Bend. He leaves to cherish his memory his daughter-in-law, Rosemary Lawrence of Fayetteville, NC; his stepson, Robert (Amy) Baker Sr.; his stepdaughter, Mary Alice Hyde; and his god-daughter, Edna (Romeo) Martin of South Bend; six grandsons, William Lawrence Jr. of Iraq, David Lawrence of Fayetteville, Robert Baker Jr., Robert, Thomas and Cecil Hyde of South Bend; seven granddaughters, Patricia Talbert of Fayetteville, Beverly Devauld of Okolona, MS, Teresa and Michelle Lawrence of Fayetteville, Valetta (Nick) Baker Sr. of South Bend, Rhonda Baker of Silver Springs, MD, Elaine Baker of Alpharetta, GA, and Kim (Pastor Ronald) Staggers Sr. of South Bend; 39 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great-grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews and relatives; and a dear friend, Sister Lilly Keeyes, and a devoted neighbor, Leon Kennedy.

 

Services for Mr. Arthur Lawrence Jr. will be held at noon Saturday, July 12th, in Macedonia M.B. Church, 1862 N. Olive St., South Bend, with the Rev. Ray E. Owens officiating. Visitation will be one hour before services. Burial will follow funeral services at Highland Cemetery. The Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.