John R. Lawrence

1925 - 2017

John R. Lawrence, 92, of Franklin, MA, formerly of Stratford and Wilton, CT, passed away on July 31, 2017 at his home 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 their 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 school in Philadelphia before enrolling in the Marine V-12 program at Yale University. He achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Marines before his discharge in 1951. He graduated from Yale in 1948 with a B.S. degree in chemical engineering. John worked in the plastics industry for nearly 40 years, retiring in 1987. John and Priscilla married in June, 1952 and lived with their 3 children in Ohio, Colorado and Connecticut. Johns favorite place was the family camp on Lower Goose Island in Casco Bay, Maine, where he amazed us with endless projects and stories. 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 11:00 am. More information about Johns life can be found at www.ginleyfuneralhomes. com. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy 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.