Francis Lawlor

Francis J. Lawlor VIRGINIA BEACH - Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Francis J. Lawlor passed away at the age of 82, surrounded by his family in his Virginia Beach home Nov. 4, 2010. He was born in Waterbury, Conn., in 1928, the son of Martin Henry Lawlor and Katherine Frances Watts and was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Mary Sullivan. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951 and while serving attended the University of Washington and received a B.S. in electrical engineering. After a 25-year career as a U.S. Navy aviation engineer, he returned to school and attained a M.S. in education from Old Dominion University in 1977 in order to pursue his passion for teaching. He later worked as an engineering consultant for Q.E.D. and MANTECH and retired for the final time in 1990. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carol Shimer Lawlor; sisters, Joan Wood of Oakville, Conn., and Ann Cushing of Monroe, Ga.; his son, Michael Lawlor; daughters, Susan Lawlor, Sandra Garey and Sharon Heath; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a devout Redskins and Yankees fan, a lover of opera, and a member of the Hampton Roads Writers. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the VFW or Heartland Hospice. A memorial service will be held Monday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, with a visitation following. Online condolences may be sent to hdoliver.com.