George Walter Lawson

George Walter Lawson, 90, a long-time resident of Moses Lake, WA, passed away on June 13, 2010 from natural causes.

George Walter Lawson, 90, a long-time resident of Moses Lake, WA, passed away on June 13, 2010 from natural causes, just 11 weeks after the death of his beloved wife of 67 years, Elaine.

Born in Superior, Boulder County, Colorado on August 15, 1919, he was the third child of James and Stella (MacCormac) Lawson. His family moved to Bremerton, WA in the late 1920’s where George attended Bremerton High School. He joined the U.S. Navy shortly after his high school graduation in 1938 and is a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. While serving in WWII, he once spent 4 hours in the ocean before being rescued when his ship, the USS Hornet, was sunk in the Pacific during battle. Throughout his Navy career he was stationed in places such as WA, CA, Virginia, and Hawaii.

On December 18, 1942, George married his high school sweetheart Evelyn Elaine Zurbrugg. Together they had three sons. In 1955, they moved to Moses Lake, WA where George took a position as a Navy recruiter. He retired from active Navy duty in October 1958, although he continued to serve in the Navy reserves until 1968. While in Moses Lake, George also worked for the U.S. Postal Service, from which he retired in August 1984.

Known for his mischievous smile, enthusiasm for life, and love of others, George was constantly serving. He was often found driving senior citizens on outings, volunteering in one of the many organizations in which he was involved, or helping one of his grandchildren with a project. He also had an amazing talent of being able to repair anything.

Filled with a true spirit for adventure, George traveled extensively around the United States and to many places throughout the world including Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and South Africa during his 25 years of retirement.

George is preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Elaine; his parents; son, Michael Lawson; sister, Gertrude; and grandsons Damon Lawson, Douglas Lawson and Scott Lawson.

He is survived by two sons, Larry (Pat) of Olalla, WA and Gary (Yvonne) Lawson of Moses Lake, WA; sisters Clair (Jerry) Owens of Silverdale, WA and Trez (Gary) Wheeler of Tracyton, WA; brother Donald Lawson of Berkeley, CA. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren who will all greatly miss him.

Viewing will be held on Friday, July 2, from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Grape Drive Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 925 N. Grape Drive in Moses Lake, WA. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on July 3, 2010 also in the Church. Burial and concluding services with full military honors will immediately follow in Pioneer Memorial Gardens, Moses Lake.

In lieu of flowers, donations in George Lawson’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society or Shriner’s Hospital.

Please visit www.carverfamilyfuneralhome.com to sign our online guestbook and to leave a note or message for George’s family.

George’s family has asked Carver Family Funeral Home to care for arrangements.