George Thomas “Tom” Lawrence, IV
Alton |
George Thomas “Tom” Lawrence, IV, LTC US Army, Retired, age 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior at Alton Memorial Hospital on Saturday, September 26, 2015.
He was born on February 20, 1929, in Wood River, IL, the son of George Thomas “Tom” Lawrence II and Florence Wave Irey. He married Bonnie J. Brewer Goode on July 1, 1972, and she preceded him in death. Tom had a dual career with the US Army Reserve and Shell Oil Company, retiring from the US Army in 1975 after 25 years of service and from Shell Oil Company as a Drafting Supervisor for instrumentation and electrical systems in 1981 after 28 years of service.
Tom was drafted in the US Army as a Combat Engineer in 1950 and attained the rank of Corporal before being released from Active Duty in 1952. As an Army Reservist, he became qualified as a Corps of Engineer Officer where he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and as a young officer was assigned to active duty and completed Officers Training at the Army Aviation Flight School. Throughout his career Tom continued Army qualifications to include the Ordnance Corps and Transportation Corps, and was subsequently promoted to the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring, having served during the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts. During his military service Tom received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Korean Conflict Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army National Defense Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Reserve Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the US Army Reserve Achievement Medal.
He was a member of the Cornerstone Assembly of God Church in Bethalto, as well as a member of the Bethalto American Legion; served as Vice President for the General George Rogers Clark Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution with Korean and Viet Nam Service Medals; and was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association. Along the way he graduated from SIUE with a BS Degree, majoring in Mathematics with minors in Physics and Economics; attended STL Staff College, and completed a PhD dissertation in Management of the Christian Education Classroom.
He is survived by his children, Ron Lawrence and his wife, Mona; Susan Arvieux; Pamela Mohr and her husband, Jim; Marlene Schreiber and her husband, Pat; and Bruce Goode and his wife, Brenda; a loving companion, Norma May; 10 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Geneva Brewer Phillips Van Scoyck; and a brother-in-law, Dr. Paul Brewer.
In addition to his wife, Bonnie; he is preceded in death by his parents; and a son-in-law, Ken Arvieux.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 30, 2015 from 4 pm to 7 pm at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 1, 2015, at 10 am with Pastor Phil Schneider officiating.
Interment will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis with the US Army Honor Guard presenting Full Military Honors.
Memorials may be made to Cornerstone Assembly of God Church, the MS Foundation, or any Autism Foundation.
Online condolences and guest book may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
