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Ralph “Jack” Lawson, age 91, of Decatur, who died Monday, August 12, 2013, at his residence, was born January 6, 1922, in Elk Valley, TN to Dr. and Mrs. Alonzo Lawson. He was married 64 years to Lois Petersen Lawson of Stillwater, MN. Mr. Lawson was preceded in death by one granddaughter.
Mr. Lawson was a Corporal with the Sixth Marine Division, 29th Marine Regiment in combat operations on Okinawa during WWII, and later during the repatriation of Japanese troops from Tsingtao, China after the war ended. The Sixth Marine Division received the Presidential Unit Citation for valor during the Okinawa campaign. In civilian life, he was a machinist and retired from Union Carbide Corporation’s Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, TN.
He is survived by three children, Steve Lawson (Marty) of Decatur, Judy Monroe (Mark) of Vicksburg, MS, and Andy Lawson of Kailua-Kona, HI; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1211 Westmead Street, S.W., Decatur, AL 35603.
The family will schedule a memorial service at a later date.
