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.