Obituary of Edward Ruhl Lawson

LawsonEdward Edward Ruhl Lawson Edward Ruhl Lawson, age 84, formerly of Buckhannon, WV died Friday, March 30, 2007 at Anna Maria Nursing Home in Aurora, OH. The son of the late Merlin Ruhl and Kathryn Ward Lawson, he was born July 1, 1922 in Grafton, WV but grew up in Berlin, WV, graduating from Weston High School. He met his wife, the former Clara Jett Strader of Buckhannon, while attending WV Wesleyan College. At the time of her death in 2003, they had been married for 61 years. Edward also attended WV University in Morgantown and received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, PA, graduating with honors. He worked for the Watson-Standard Co. of Pittsburgh for 46 years, which originally sold and developed trade sales paints and later produced industrial coatings. At the time of his retirement, the company newsletter noted the following; “Ed began his career as a chemist in the laboratory at Plant 1. Following eight years of diligent, hard work, Ed was promoted to Chief Chemist in 1954. A few years later, he moved to Delaware, Ohio to become the industrial and technical coatings sales representative for that territory. After 18 successful years in sales, Ed returned to Pittsburgh and assumed the duties of Technical Director. In the early 1980’s he designed and installed the first computer system ever at Watson Standard Co.” A co-worker made note of his “kindness, gentleness, perseverance and desire to do work well”. His family can attest to that and to his courage and integrity; for while he endured multiple sclerosis for over 40 years, he always put the welfare of his family first. While he was able, he enjoyed golfing, and assisting his wife with her art projects by making plaster molds and glazes and frames for her paintings. Preceded in death by his sister, Louise DeFrancis. He is survived by two sons, Stephen Edward Lawson of Sylvania, OH and Gregory Lawson of Ft. Collins, CO; three daughters, Linda Miller of Newport, ME, Barbara Trueman of Aurora, OH and Michelle Strader of Bethlehem, PA and Eden, WV and five grandsons, five granddaughters and six great-grandchildren. Friends will be received from 6-8 PM, Thursday, April 5, 2007 at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 10 AM, Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Billee Scott Mick officiating. Burial will follow in the Lorentz Church Cemetery at Lorentz, WV. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday, April 5, 2007 Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home Funeral Service 10:00 AM Friday, April 6, 2007 Funeral Home Burial Lorentz Church Cemetery