John Richard Lawson, 87, of Red Maple Drive, Plymouth, died suddenly in the Emergency Room of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center-Plymouth Campus, at 11:24 p.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2012. John has been a resident of Plymouth since 2007 coming from Xenia, Ohio.
John was born on November 11, 1924, in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. He was the son of Harry E. and Georgianna (Swonger) Lawson.
He graduated from Washington Courthouse High School with the class of 1942, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1943. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
On April 22, 1951, in the Church of Christ, Hillsboro, Ohio, John and Maxine Zink were married. John was a sales and retail counselor for Super Valu stores for 38 ½ years, retiring in 1989. He continued to work for 17 more years part time for a total of 55 ½ years with the same company.
He was a member of the Washington Courthouse Fayette Masonic Lodge No. 107 for 60 years. In Ohio he was an active member of the Xenia Ohio Memorial Presbyterian Church and the First United Methodist Church in Plymouth. John was a true family man and is survived by Maxine, his devoted wife of sixty-one years and by their daughter, Katherine L. and John Mills, all of Plymouth.
A granddaughter, Holly K. and Michael Cessna of Pittsburgh, PA., and their children: Riley J. and Ian J. Cessna also survive, together with a grandson, John L. and Princessa Mills, Plymouth, and their children: Haley C., John S., Tolman A., Collin R., and Seth D. Mills.
John was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Margaret Lawson, and two brothers, Edward and Robert Lawson.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 23, 2012 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Masonic Memorial Rites, will be conducted by members of the Plymouth Kilwinning Masonic Lodge No. 149 F. & A.M., on Sunday in the funeral home at 3:30 p.m. Funeral services for John will immediately follow at 4 p.m. with Pastors Larry Marhanka and Jeff Herron officiating.
Graveside services with Military Honors provided by the Highland County Honor Guard and burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, September 24th in the Hillsboro Cemetery, Hillsboro, Ohio.
Memorial gifts in John’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 2410 Grape Road, Suite 5A, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or the First United Methodist Memorial Fund, 400 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, IN 46563.
The Rev. R. Michael Helling says
Maxine, Kathy and John and Family: I was sorry to read of John\’s death in the Xenia Daily Gazette. I remember him as a good and decent man and most faithful member at Xenia Memorial Church. I know for a fact that Memorial has mightily missed you all in the intervening years since you left Xenia. Please be assured I shall be thinking of you during these days of adjustment and transition. May our loyal God sustain and hold you closely throughout.
Jerry and Carolyn Randall says
Maxine, Kathy & John and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. John was a great guy and we really enjoyed knowing him and consider you all part of our church family. The world has lost one of the great ones!
Gerald Troy says
Dear Maxine & Family :
We are sorry to hear of John\’s death. Our thoughts & prayers are with you
Dr Gerald & Lynda Troy
Sherry Anderson says
Maxine and family,
So sorry to hear of John\’s passing. We think of you often…the old neighborhood is not the same anymore. Just wanted to let you know we are thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers.
God Bless…….
Sherry and Mike Anderson
Clara Woolley says
Kathy:
Reading of the sudden and unexpteced death of your father was not good news. It seems that he has lived quite a wholesome family life. You have lost a \”slice of the pie\” of your family. That space will remain empty and cannot be changed. I have a good friend in Xenia, Ohio, and have been to the Washington Court House/Xenia area several times. My thoughts are with you as you travel to the final resting site. Prayers are going out for your family. Relying on a greater strength of God is helpful.
Clara Woolley
LaVerna L. Lyons says
So sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
The Rev. R. Michael Helling says
Maxine, Kathy and John and Family: I was sorry to read of John\’s death in the Xenia Daily Gazette. I remember him as a good and decent man and most faithful member at Xenia Memorial Church. I know for a fact that Memorial has mightily missed you all in the intervening years since you left Xenia. Please be assured I shall be thinking of you during these days of adjustment and transition. May our loyal God sustain and hold you closely throughout.
Jerry and Carolyn Randall says
Maxine, Kathy & John and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. John was a great guy and we really enjoyed knowing him and consider you all part of our church family. The world has lost one of the great ones!
Gerald Troy says
Dear Maxine & Family :
We are sorry to hear of John\’s death. Our thoughts & prayers are with you
Dr Gerald & Lynda Troy
Sherry Anderson says
Maxine and family,
So sorry to hear of John\’s passing. We think of you often…the old neighborhood is not the same anymore. Just wanted to let you know we are thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers.
God Bless…….
Sherry and Mike Anderson
Clara Woolley says
Kathy:
Reading of the sudden and unexpteced death of your father was not good news. It seems that he has lived quite a wholesome family life. You have lost a \”slice of the pie\” of your family. That space will remain empty and cannot be changed. I have a good friend in Xenia, Ohio, and have been to the Washington Court House/Xenia area several times. My thoughts are with you as you travel to the final resting site. Prayers are going out for your family. Relying on a greater strength of God is helpful.
Clara Woolley
LaVerna L. Lyons says
So sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.