John R. Lawrence, 92, of Franklin, MA, formerly of Stratford and Wilton, CT, passed away on July 31 at his home surrounded by family after a recent decline in health. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Priscilla (Rhodes) Lawrence.
Born April 15, 1925 in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late Linwood and Martha (Hughes) Lawrence. Besides his wife, he is survived by his 3 children, Nancy Flournoy and her husband Peter of Norwalk, CT, John Lawrence and his wife Carol of Philadelphia, PA, and Robin Cowper and her husband Scott of Franklin, MA. He has 5 grandchildren, Heidi Lawrence, Catie Lawrence and her husband Mike Smith, Leah Weston and her husband Joe, Luke Cowper, and Lauren Flournoy, and 2 great-grandchildren, Ella & Ben Payne. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Ted Lawrence and his wife Mary, of Philadelphia and predeceased by his brother, David Lawrence.
John attended Germantown, PA High School and Haverford College before enrolling in the Marine V-12 program at Yale University. He completed basic training at Parris Island and Platoon Commanders School at Quantico, VA. He received his commission as 2nd lieutenant in June 1945 and would have been involved in the invasion of Japan in the fall of 1945 had the war not ended. He served at the Marine Separation Center in Great Lakes, IL and was discharged from inactive reserves in 1951 after achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He returned to Yale University to complete his degree in chemical engineering in June 1948. John’s early work in the plastics development industry included employment with the Glidden Company and Standard Oil. His book about Polyester Resins led to his position as editor for Plastics World magazine and later Technical Director for the Society of the Plastics Industry from which he retired in 1987.
John and Priscilla met through a connection to the islands of Casco Bay, Maine, and married in June 1952. They were blessed with 3 children and together had many memorable adventures while growing up in Ohio, Colorado, and Connecticut. John’s favorite place was the family camp on Lower Goose Island in Casco Bay, Maine that his parents purchased in 1921 and continues to be a gathering place for the 4th generation of descendants. John was a man of many talents including skiing, camping, kayaking, woodworking, gardening, photography, baking bread, sewing quilts, and building boats. He has left a legacy of hand-made furniture and children’s toys for family and friends to enjoy for years to come.
John was a loving and devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. His drive to overcome any obstacle was evident in his battle with prostate cancer over the past 17 years.
A memorial service will be held at his former church in CT, the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan, on September 16 at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in his memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift.