John Lawrence

Lawrence, John Gilbert “Jack”, passed away March 10, 2016, in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 96. He was born to John Benjamin and Bessie Bly (Smith) Lawrence, in Alton, Illinois. He married Maxine Hull in 1948. They had two children, Mary Ann (Phillip) Walker of Rosewood Heights, Illinois, and Rebecca Sue (David) Lucas of Wichita, Kansas and four grandchildren: Christopher Walker, Cassandra Pollock-Galvan (Fredrick), Everett Lucas and wife Stephanie (Cutshaw), and Jocelyn Lucas. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mildred (Lawrence) Smith and brothers Allen and Don. His wife and children survive. He attended Alton Schools and during his teen years, he was the State Scribe for the Demolay. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps before Pearl Harbor and spent four years stateside as an instructor in the Air Force. He was honorably discharged in 1945 when he enrolled in Shurtleff College, Alton, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Missouri, Rolla, Missouri, with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was a member of Upper Alton Baptist Church for 60 years. While there, he organized a retiree’s maintenance group in 1978 and the group still meets. He was a church trustee, taught an adult Sunday School class and led an evening Bible study group. In 2008, he and Maxine relocated to Prairie Homestead, an American Baptist Retirement Center in Wichita, Kansas. While there, he started a Men’s Group, which later called themselves, “The Wizards.” Graveside rites are pending, Interment will be in the Upper Alton Cemetery, also known as the Oakwood Cemetery, Alton, Illinois. Share condolences at www.CozineMemorial.com. Broadway Mortuary

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