NORWICH – Douglas F. Lawrence, Sr., 89, of Miller’s Trailer Park, Norwich, passed away late Christmas Day (2007) at his home, after a long illness.
Born in Norwich in Sept. of 1918, Doug was the son of Alva and Edna (Howland) Lawrence. He grew up in Chenango County and attended several different schools, though most of his school years were spent in the one-room schoolhouse in South New Berlin. On Jan. 31,1940, in Norwich, he married Beatrice Charles, and his family became the focus of his life. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren, and delighted in dressing in his purple and white shirt and slacks when attending their high school basketball games and other sporting events. A reformed smoker, Doug would buy bubble gum and Tootsie Roll Pops by the buckets and share the treats with everyone. He was an avid New York Yankees fan, enjoyed riding through the county pointing out the phone lines he had installed, and was an encyclopedia of local history. A man who enjoyed hunting and driving big cars, Doug worked as a lineman for the C & U Telephone Corporation for 28 years, retiring as a foreman after an injury curtailed his activities. He also had been an active volunteer of the Alert Hose Company #1 of the Norwich Fire Dept. Doug had resided in Miller’s Trailer Park since the early 1970s. A familiar face in the Blue Bird Restaurant at the time that Bea worked there, and a heavy coffee drinker, Doug had switched to orange soda in later years.
Doug is survived by his children: Beverly Anderson of Columbus, Connie Pounds of New Berlin, Doug “Butch” and Faye Lawrence, Jr., of Johnstown, Tom and Linda Lawrence of Norwich, and Sherry and Frank Bennett of Preston; by 23 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, and 7 great great grandchildren. Doug was predeceased by his wife, Bea, on Jan. 6, 2004; his daughter, Betty Lou Neimier; his sister and brothers: Eleanor, Fred, and Harold “Bud”; and by his granddaughter, Christine Anderson.
Funeral services for Doug will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 28, from the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Dennis McKenna, Pastor of the Assembly of God, will officiate. Interment in the spring will be in the Riverside Cemetery of South New Berlin.
Friends are invited to call at the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m..
Doug’s family has asked that memorial contributions be directed to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.