Richard Lee Lawrence

Richard Lee Lawrence, 74, of Roanoke, died suddenly on Sunday March 19, 2012, as a result of an automobile accident. He lived a full life, and leaves behind not only his family, but many friends throughout the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Africa and the far reaches of the world. He was a member of St. John's Church his whole life, where as a young man he served as a Crucifer. He attended faithfully where he sat in his favorite seat on the back pew every Sunday since December, 1992.
He was born in Roanoke on January 12, 1938, to Virginia Porter Lawrence and Reinsley Alan Lawrence. He grew up in South Roanoke, and had a job delivering the morning newspaper. Beginning with that first newspaper job in the late 1940s, he was proud to say he worked every day since. During that first job he often wrapped his legs in newspapers to protect them from the dogs that roamed free in South Roanoke during that time. He continued to figure out a way to get the job done and solve the problems at hand in his lengthy legal career. When he was 15, he worked for Jefferson Electric, where he helped wire the radio tower that stands today beside the Mill Mountain Star.
He was a member of Scout Troop 21, where he ultimately attained the rank of Eagle Scout, an achievement he was proud of his entire life. He often said that the skills and the values that he learned as a scout were as important as any other part of his education. He went to Crystal Spring School, Lee Jr., three different military academies, and eventually landed back in Roanoke, where he graduated from Jefferson High School. He went on to Roanoke College, served in the United States Marine Corp and then graduated from Washington and Lee School of Law. Throughout his life Richard was a passionate student of American History, with a special interest in the American Civil War, but also thoroughly enjoyed immersing himself in the various cultures of our world.
After graduating from law school, he began his legal career and worked as an assistant to Leroy Moran, who was then the Commonwealth's Attorney, and then went into private practice. Years later, when the Commonwealth's Attorney, Sam Garrison, was called to Washington, D.C. to serve President Nixon, Lawrence was appointed to be the Chief Prosecutor to finish Garrison's term. He thrived in this job and began to become well known as a passionate lawyer.
At the end of his term as Commonwealth's Attorney, he reentered private practice, where he remained for the next four decades, practicing with the firms Lutins, Lawrence, and Shapiro and then Lawrence and Lumsden among others. During the last 17 years of his life, he practiced with his son, David Denton Lawrence, at the Lawrence Law Firm. For many years he was known as one of Roanoke's premier divorce attorneys. He was known for his work ethic, often working well into the night. He once attempted to retire, moving to his Craig County farm to drive his antique tractors. After three days he returned to work under the guise of helping his son, where he remained, and found a new found passion for the practice of law, taking on the causes that were dear to him. He often took cases that no one else would consider, many times at little or no charge. It may have been his dedication to those people who did not have an advocate or a voice that he is best known for. From the time that he was the littlest kid on the block and got beat up by the neighborhood bullies, he always had contempt for bullies, the arrogance of authority, and a love of people. He was a pillar of the legal bar in the Roanoke Valley. Over the course of his long career he tried thousands of cases, many of them notable but many more known only to those whose lives they affected. Along the way Richard enjoyed mentoring dozens of young lawyers, who are now defense attorneys, prosecutors and judges throughout the area.
He also loved nature and the great outdoors. This may have started when he was a young boy, and had a pet alligator. Unfortunately the alligator turned out to be vicious and escaped from his house. His uncle Jack gave him his first gun and took him hunting, and those early experiences in the woods led to a life-long love of hunting and the outdoors. His hunting took him to many countries around the world, on six different continents, but it was always the adventure of the trip, and the experience of the different cultures and peoples that he enjoyed the most. In 1971, he took his young wife on a safari to live and hunt with the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. He especially enjoyed living among these amazing people. Their ancient and simple life made a lasting impression on him. This appreciation carried into the way he lived his own life, motivated not by wealth but by the experiences he could have.
He spent most of his free time at his farm in Craig County, where he enjoyed driving his antique tractor and planting fruit trees. His farm was not a place where he grew a particular crop, but an escape from the trappings of modern life, and a peaceful place to spend time with his family. He loved to walk the mountains alone with his birddog, a shotgun, and a sandwich in his pocket, and thankfully was able to do this up until the last day of grouse season this year. His farm also became a kind of retirement home for older dogs, donkeys, horses, and his favorite mule, Ruby. Richard enjoyed hard work, people and the outdoors and his farm is where he was truly able to enjoy all three. This was how he spent the last day of his life. And for that his family is grateful.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia Porter Lawrence and Reinsley Alan Lawrence. He is survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Ellen Lawrence van Thiel; his son, David Denton Lawrence and wife, Paige and their children, Anna Mitchell and Hudson James Lawrence; and his daughter, Julia Haynes Lawrence. He is also survived by his fiancée, Debbie Ballard and her children, Justin Ballard, Jessica and Jonathon Delumyea; brother, William James Lawrence and wife, Wanda; nephew, Allen William Lawrence and niece, Amy Lawrence Moretti and husband, Moses.
Memorial Services will be held at 2 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church on Friday, March 23, 2012, with the Rev. Barkley Thompson officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Boy Scouts of America by contacting Helen Ferguson at the Roanoke Boy Scouts office at (540) 777-7970. Every donation large and small counts. Online condolences can be made by visiting www.oakeys.com.




This obituary was originally published in the Roanoke Times.