Francis Warren Lawrence

Francis Warren Lawrence 85, died at home in Larkspur on January 14, 2007, of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was born in San Francisco on February 12, 1921, to Clifford Stanley Lawrence and Margaret Hutchinson Lawrence. He was raised in San Francisco and graduated from Lowell High School. He then went on to U.C. Berkeley where he was a member of the Sigma Phi fraternity. After graduation from U.C. Berkeley, he attended Hasting Law School where he was affiliated with Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. He was also a member of Bachelors. During WWII he served as a lieutenant in the Navy and was on board the Hornet. Shortly after the war ended he met Marilyn Bentley and they were married at St. Luke Church on September 24, 1948. After the birth of their children in San Francisco they moved to Kentfield. He began a career with Standard Oil Corporation as a lobbyist in 1949. Warren and Marilyn moved their family in 1958 to Washington DC to further his lobbying efforts for Standard Oil on Capitol Hill during the Kennedy Administration. Upon his return to San Francisco he served as vice president in government relations. His work for Standard Oil spanned 34 years. Warren loved the Sierras, and their mountain summer retreat, the Cedars, dearly. He served on the board as well as president of the board of the NFA during his life. He was responsible for the building of a tennis court in honor of his mother-in-law, Elaine Hancock Bentley. His love of hiking and adventure was a lifelong passion and after retirement from Standard Oil, he and a group of fellow lovers of the trail formed the Geezer Patrol. They hiked together weekly throughout Marin County enjoying the comradeship. Warren was a member of St. Johns Parish Church in Ross, CA. He was an active participant on Sundays; ushering and served on their vestry for years. Warren was an avid lover of tennis; playing every Saturday morning with friends, gardening and traveling abroad with Marilyn and their children. He especially loved cruising the Caribbean and Europe. He was a terrific dancer and host to his famous picnics in the wild (Bridge on the Ridge) theme parties (luaus), and always great dinners with family and friends. His creative touch and love for wonderful food topped the list of a thousand memories enriched by his warmth and generosity. Warren imparted faith, hope and greatest of all, love, to his wife Marilyn, family and friends. He was a man of integrity. He walked the walk. At 6'3, he walked that walk magnificently. Memories of Warren will live on in Marilyn, his wife of 59 years, as well as his son, Richard Bentley Lawrence; daughter-in-law, Suzy Westerbeck; daughter, Margelaine (Parky) deVogelaere; son-in-law, Robert(Brick) deVogelaere and his two grandchildren, William Bentley deVogelaere and Elizabeth Alexandra deVogelaere. The family wishes to extend a warm loving tribute to the wonderful care given to Warren during his long and courageous battle with Parkinson's. Gina and Sever Nunez, Merlin Bautista, Lyidia Mlay, Orlando Bautista, Michael Santiago, Brigette, and Du Van Pham were always there by his side daily and in the wee hours of the night. Dr. Elizabeth Seamens, Dr. Mark Wexmen, and more recently, Dr. David Ogden, brilliantly headed up his medical team. We will never forget your love and kindness. Following the Cremation on Friday, January 19th, at Mt. Tamalpais Mortuary, he will be interred at Grace Cathedral. A Celebration of his life will be held in the Chapel of Grace at Grace Cathedral in the near future.