Oscar Lawson

Leroy Lawson, 85, a resident of Churubusco, passed away at 3:45 a. m. on Thursday, June 2, 2011, at his home.e He had been in failing health since April, and had returned home two days ago after being hospitalized. Mr. Lawson was born in Wolf Lake on May 11, 1926, a son of Homer and Blanche (Reed) Lawson, and spent his formative years in Noble County.e As a young man he served with the U. S. Marine Corps during World War II, and was a war hero.e Following his military discharge he was married to Ruth L. Schroeder on December 26, 1947. e He was then engaged in farming, and was also a sheet metal worker. He lived in South Milford for a portion ofe his adult life.e He retired in 1988 as a construction foreman for Hagerman Construction, and was involved in many major building projects throughout Fort Wayne during his career.e Following his retirement he enjoyed traveling throughout the continental United States and beyond. He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 97 in Auburn and the Churubusco Veteran's of Foreign Wars Turtle Post 3846.e He was also a member of the First Marine Division, and was proud to be a part of the Cherokee Nation Northern Tsalagi tribe in West Virginia. His first wife preceded him in death on October 1, 1981.e On November 13, 1983 he was married to Betty J. (Walker) McClure.e She survives. Also surviving are his children Corrine Caulfield of Sarasota, Fla., Roy Lee (Cheri) Lawson of Auburn, Betty (Bill) Bridge of Kendallville, Gale (Michael) Kissinger of West, Tx., Joan (Creager) Smith of Fort Wayne, and Jay (Deb) Lawson of Kalamazoo, Mich; eight step-children June Houlton of Auburn, Linda (Duane) Barth of Columbia City, Beverly (Joe) Gray of Archbold, Oh., David McClure of Columbia City, Aaron (Cyndi) McClure of Churubusco, Wanda Van Horn of Auburn, and Carol Butler and Gloria Hughnett, both of Fort Wayne; and a sister Geneva Wagner of Kendallville.e There are 30 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a step-son Alden Ray "Sonny" McClure; a brother Forrest Lawson; a sister Odra Bailey; and by two grandsons Jeremy Ray Hoffman and Jeffery Everage. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Monday, June 6, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Timothy Grable, pastor of Sugar Grove Church of God, officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 to 6 p. m., or one hour prior to the service. Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco. The family requests that memorials be directed to the Sonny McClure Scholarship Fund for Churubusco High School. ******************************************