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Submitted: 4/17/16 • Approved: 8/5/21 • Last Updated: 8/8/21 • R790779-G790778-S3
Walter
Mar 21, 1924
Jul 6, 2020
Dorothy
Aug 16, 1926
Dec 2, 2013
On July 6, 2020 Walter Lawson, age 96, passed away in Houston, Missouri. He was born March 21, 1924 in Burnham, Missouri to Walter Wilson and Ethel Blankenbleckler Lawson. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Dorothy McClellan Lawson, a brother, Dean Lawson and sister, Catherine Lawson Carver. He is survived by his son, Kenny Lawson of Houston, daughter in law, Jeretta Kirkwood Lawson; brothers, Gene Lawson of Holts Summit Missouri, and Noel Lawson of Radford Virginia; 2 granddaughters, Michele Lawson McConnell and husband, Joseph from Houston, and Melodey Lawson McBride and husband, Frank of Omaha Nebraska, three great grandchildren, Elley Lawson(daughter of Melodey Lawson McBride) student at Iowa State University, Levi and Sylas McConnell (sons of Michele and Joseph McConnell) from Houston.
He was a graduate of Manual High, and Vocational School in Kansas City in 1941. He worked with his dad doing carpentry work until May of 1943 when he volunteered to join the war effort. He got his basic training in Camp Roberts California, traveled to Africa for staging and training and then the liberation of Italy as part of the 328th field artillery. He did radio relay for the fire direction center. He returned home on the Aircraft Carrier Randolf and sailed into NY Harbor on Christmas day 1944. It is believed by the family that he is the last member of his division.
After the army he became a radio technician and announcer and built radio stations in Iron Mountain Michigan, West Plains and Willow Springs. He also worked in radio in Paragould, Arkansas, Lovington, New Mexico, Lubbock, Big Spring and San Angelo, Texas, Fredericktown, Willow Springs and Houston in Missouri. He will be remembered in the area for the radio show “Walt’s Old Camp Meeting Time”. Later he owned an A and W drive-in in West Plains and owned the only carwash in Houston next to where city hall presently is.
On November 29, 1946 he married Dorothy McClellan in Kansas and this union lasted 67 years until her death in December 2013. To this union was born one son Kenny born March 3, 1950. When she passed away, he said that within 2 weeks he would join her but his son persuaded him to go on a mission trip to Guatemala. Later he indicated that the trip was a highlight of his life.
He and Dorothy attended several churches in the area but were members of the First Freewill Baptist Church and in later years he attended the New Horizon Church of the Nazarene.
He enjoyed radio, gospel and blue grass music, gardening, traveling, camping, fishing, woodworking but mostly he lived his life as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. He shared his faith on the radio and any time someone asked. He longed to be with Dorothy and he in his later life used to say “one of these days” followed by what heaven would be like being with Jesus and his loved ones. His deep personal prayer was that all his offspring would know the God of the Universe who saves from sin. What a legacy and solid Christian example he has left for his family. He was a great father, husband, grandfather, great grandfather, and ambassador for Christ and he will be greatly missed.
Dorothy Lawson daughter of Leslie and Cora (Keeler) McClellan of Willow Springs was born on August 16th, 1926 at their home near Burnham, Missouri. She passed away December 2, 2013 at the Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, MO.
She is preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers Clyde and Johnny McClellan both from Willow Springs.
She is survived by her husband Walter of Houston, a son Kenny and his wife Jeretta, Houston, 2 grand daughters, Michele Lawson McConnell and husband Joseph from Bridgeport Washington, Melodey Lawson McBride and husband Frank from Omaha Nebraska, 2 great grandchildren Elley and Levi, 2 sisters, Eula McClellan Turner and husband Raymond (deceased) from Willow springs, and Ruth McClellan Robertson and husband Dean from West Plains 2 brothers, Leslie and wife Dorinda Tampa Florida, Leon and wife Nedra recently moved to Phoenix Arizona.
Walter and Dorothy grew up around Burnham Missouri and attended the same Sunday school class. Her dad was a farmer.
She graduated in 1945 from the Willow Springs High School and then went to Bolivar to become a teacher. She and Walt were married on November 29th in Columbus, Kansas and recently celebrated 67 years together.
Her hobbies were embroidery, quilt making, sewing, canning, gardening and plants.
As long as anyone can remember she has professed to be a Christian and has lived a full life consistent with those values.
Contributed on 4/17/16 by mjrwag
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Record #: 790779