Robert William “Bill” Lawrence
Robert William “Bill” Lawrence, 79 years and four days, and passed away on August 30, 2023, in Edgefield, SC., where he and his wife had recently relocated to be closer to their son, Dave.
He was a graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic School. He also graduated from Butler High School in Huntsville, AL., where he played varsity football as the starting halfback. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Business. Bill had an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University and a Master of Science from Middle Tennessee State University. Bill was an automotive engineer with Ford Motor Company in Quality Assurance and retired from Nissan Motor Manufacturing in Smyrna, Tn. He served as an adjunct professor at both Motlow State Community College and MTSU. He was a member of ASQ, Society of Automotive Engineers. He was a member of Saint Rose Catholic Church in Murfreesboro, Tn., where he served in the Knights of Columbus (Marian Council) and was a member of Toastmasters International.
Bill’s joys were the San Francisco Giants Baseball and the University of Alabama Football. Bill was deeply loved by his family and friends and will be missed beyond measure.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis James Lawrence, Sr., and Mary Hortense Bethell Lawrence, brothers, Louis J. Lawrence, Jr., Johnny Lawrence, and Frank Lawrence.
Left behind to cherish Bill’s memory are his loving wife of 47 years, Phyllis Neal Lawrence, his son, David Neal Lawrence, brother-in-law, Ray Neal, sister-in-law, Fran Lawrence, sisters, Linda (Larry) Worley, Huntsville, AL., Susan (Tommy) Brewington, Scottsboro, AL., and Diane (Ken) Lowry, Oxford, MS., brother, Luke (Cheryl) Lawrence, Indian Rocks Beach, FL.
A Requiem Mass celebrating Bill’s Life will be at St. Jude Catholic Church on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Charles Burton officiating.
The family will receive friends at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home on Sunday, Sept. 3, from 3-7 p.m. and again on Monday, Sept. 4, from 3-7 p.m.
He will be laid to rest in the Chattanooga Memorial Park.
Serving as pallbearers will be his nephews and great-nephews: Patrick Brewington and Bobby Ray both of Madison, AL., Gregory Ray, and Zachary Hughes both of Manchester, TN., Jon Worley, of Gulf Breeze, Fl., and Jason Worley of Vestavia, Al. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Class of 1962 from Butler High School and “the Breakfast Boys” in Huntsville.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.