Lawrence McGowen
Jerseyville |
Lawrence E. McGowen, 86, died at 12:03 p.m., Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at Jersey Community Hospital Emergency Room. He born on Nov. 12, 1923, at the family home west of Jerseyville on Costello Road, one of six children born to the late Edward & Pearl (Russell) McGowen.
On Dec. 20, 1940 he married Edna Williams, and together they had a son. She died Aug. 7, 1997. He later married Wilma A. Reynolds on Dec. 10, 1947, in Alton, and together they too had a son, and shared 61 years of marriage before her death on Feb. 11, 2009.
In 1942, Mac enlisted in the U.S. Army, and spend two and a half years overseas during World War II. During that time he joined the first the First Division as a replacement in the machine gun squad in North Africa. On July 10, 1943 he made the invasion of Sicily and wounded on Aug. 4, 1943. He rejoined his unit on June 6, 1944 and participated in the invasion of France. He recieved his discharge in Oct. 1945, and was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star among other medals. He was an avid race face, having raced in Alton, Pittsfield, Fulton, Mo, and St. Louis, as well as various other cities for over 30 years, and loved watching the Nascar series. A mechanic by trade, he began his working career with Jerry Corbett in Hardin, and owned and operated, along with his brother, Walter, McGowen Brothers in Hardin for many years before working at Sunderland Motors in Jerseyville, retiring in 1982 after 15 years of service.
He is survived by two sons & a daughter in law, Robert D. McGowen and Barb of Jerseyville, and Butch and Theresa McGowen of Jerseyville; four grandchildren and their spouses, Danny & Hyeon Chu McGowen of St. Roberts, Mo., David McGowen of Arkansas, Duane McGowen of Mundelein, and Kari & Matt Frizzo of Highland; five great grandchildren; one great great grandson; a brother Walter McGowen of Jerseyville; and a sister, Dorothy Timpe of Jerseyville. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Gladys Ames, Opal Priest and Zadie McGowen.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Friday until time of funeral services at 1 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville, with Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 conducting military graveside rites.
Memorials may be given to the Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabiliation Center new expansion project
On Dec. 20, 1940 he married Edna Williams, and together they had a son. She died Aug. 7, 1997. He later married Wilma A. Reynolds on Dec. 10, 1947, in Alton, and together they too had a son, and shared 61 years of marriage before her death on Feb. 11, 2009.
In 1942, Mac enlisted in the U.S. Army, and spend two and a half years overseas during World War II. During that time he joined the first the First Division as a replacement in the machine gun squad in North Africa. On July 10, 1943 he made the invasion of Sicily and wounded on Aug. 4, 1943. He rejoined his unit on June 6, 1944 and participated in the invasion of France. He recieved his discharge in Oct. 1945, and was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star among other medals. He was an avid race face, having raced in Alton, Pittsfield, Fulton, Mo, and St. Louis, as well as various other cities for over 30 years, and loved watching the Nascar series. A mechanic by trade, he began his working career with Jerry Corbett in Hardin, and owned and operated, along with his brother, Walter, McGowen Brothers in Hardin for many years before working at Sunderland Motors in Jerseyville, retiring in 1982 after 15 years of service.
He is survived by two sons & a daughter in law, Robert D. McGowen and Barb of Jerseyville, and Butch and Theresa McGowen of Jerseyville; four grandchildren and their spouses, Danny & Hyeon Chu McGowen of St. Roberts, Mo., David McGowen of Arkansas, Duane McGowen of Mundelein, and Kari & Matt Frizzo of Highland; five great grandchildren; one great great grandson; a brother Walter McGowen of Jerseyville; and a sister, Dorothy Timpe of Jerseyville. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Gladys Ames, Opal Priest and Zadie McGowen.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Friday until time of funeral services at 1 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville, with Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 conducting military graveside rites.
Memorials may be given to the Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabiliation Center new expansion project
Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home
Crawford Funeral Home
