LAWRENCE, KARL - The death of Karl W. Lawrence of Hampton, husband of Joyce (Ketchum) Lawrence, occurred January 19, 2013 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. He was born August 9, 1924 in Inglewood, California; the eldest son of the late Walter and Persis (Perkins) Lawrence and he moved “home” with his family in 1932.
Karl served overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, a member of a “Halifax” air crew. Following his marriage to Joyce in 1947, he re-joined the RCAF and served at Clinton, St. Hubert, Greenwood, Rivers and Chatham and retuned to Hampton following completion of his service with the Canadian Forces in 1974. He worked until his retirement in 1989 as a school bus driver in District 6. He was an active member in the several Anglican Church congregations to which he belonged and was a founding member of the Lower Norton Shore Community Club Inc. Karl was passionate about many things including cards, gardening, building, the stock market, home and his family. He is survived by his wife Joyce; children, Clifford Lawrence (Christine) of Hampton, Christine King (Carl), Rita Oickle (Clayton), Andrew Lawrence (Anne), Kenneth Lawrence (Karen) and daughter-in-law Linda Lawrence (Art), all of Saint John; sisters Ann Longthorp of Hampton, Kathleen MacLeod of Don Mills, Frances (Danforth) Langstroth of Sackville, NB and Carol Kubilus of Dracut, MA; grandchildren Jonathan, Mary, Sheila, Catherine, Heather, Michael, Leslie, Grace and Emily; great-grandchildren John, Olivia, Nathan, Kylie, Shelby, Charlie and James and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Karl was predeceased by his sister Jane (Smith) Davidson and his brothers William “Bill,” John “Jack” and George Lawrence.
Visitation will be held at Reid’s Funeral Home (506-832-5541), 1063 Main Street, Hampton on Monday from 7 to 9 pm and Tuesday from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. The funeral will be held at 2:30 pm, Wednesday, January 23 at the Church of the Ascension, 31 Norton Shore Road, Hampton with Rev. Rob Marsh officiating and Randy Nelson assisting. Interment of ashes will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Parkinson Society Maritime Region or the Palliative Care Unit of the Saint John Regional Hospital or a charity of the donor’s choice. Online memorials and condolences can be made at: www.reidsfh.com Charitable donations may be made in Karl's memory to the following organizations: Palliative Care Unit, Saint John Regional Hospital PO Box 2100, Saint John, NB E2L 4L2, Parkinson Society Maritime Region 7071 Bayers Road, Suite 150, Halifax, NS B3L 2C2