Donald Lawrence

GULF BREEZE - Donald R. Lawrence, 74, passed away unexpectedly on June 7, 2011, in Pensacola. A longtime resident of Gulf Breeze, FL, he was born and raised in New Bedford, MA. He was the son of the late Dora Lawrence, of New Bedford. He was a retired Chief Master Sgt. in the US Air Force Reserve, based at Duke Field, with the 919th Special Operations Wing, at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, where he had served from 1975 until 1993. As a young man, he was an active duty Air Force cryptologist in several countries, before becoming an electronics airman for the Massachusetts Air National Guard, at Otis Air Force Base. He retired with a total of 36 years military service. He was a 1975 engineering graduate of Roger Williams College in Rhode Island. For the next 20 years, he worked as a civilian avionics engineer in the NARF, then NADEP at Pensacola NAS, including in the PMA (F)-225 office of the Naval Air Systems Command, before retiring again in 1995. Don was a Fourth Degreed member of the Knights of Columbus, Pensacola, and of Gulf Breeze Council 7272. He was a member of the Man-to-Man Prostate Cancer Support Group, the Pensacola Free Flight Team, and Hurlburt Field Chiefs Group. He spent much of his time raising awareness and funding for these groups, including the Air Force Enlisted Village in Shalimar, FL. He was a longtime annual retreatant at the Jesuits' Manresa House, in Convent, La. Don was a devoted husband, father and friend. He loved to work in his garden, eat ice cream and go camping in his RV. He never met a stranger. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Shirley, and his daughter, Brenda J. Lawrence, both of Gulf Breeze; and two cousins, Valmore Boisclair of Rockland, MA, and Barbara Silva of Mattapoisett, MA. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Gulf Breeze, FL, on Tuesday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m., with Celebrant Fr. Paul Lambert. Burial will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola NAS. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 13, at the church, following a rosary at 4:30. The family wishes to thank Baptist Hospital, Pensacola, the Gulf Breeze Hospital E.R., and William L. Howe, MD, for his many years of devoted care to Don. Rose Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation

Rosary

St. Ann Catholic Church
100 Daniel Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL  32561
Monday, June 13, 2011
4:30 PM

Visitation

St. Ann Catholic Church
100 Daniel Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL  32561
Monday, June 13, 2011
5:00 PM

Service

Funeral Mass

St. Ann Catholic Church
100 Daniel Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
10:30 AM

Cemetery

Burial

Barrancas National Church
One Cemetery Road
Pensacola, FL