Robert "Bob" George Lawrence

Robert George Lawrence (Bob), 81, passed away on April 9, 2015. He died from septic shock. Bob was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Cass Technical High School which was a specialty high school. There he learned to be an electrician. This formed the basis for his life long interest in electronics. Thinking he was going to marry a woman and enter into her family’s farming business, he attended Michigan State University receiving a degree in horticulture. After his farming plans did not work out he joined the U.S. Navy in 1956. He spent six years in the Navy attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He loved his time in the Navy and he often spoke with pride about places traveled and his accomplishments. Bob always had an intense loyalty to those he loved so he left the Navy to be able to commit more time to his family. After leaving the Navy, Bob went to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). He had several different job titles at USDA and was stationed at several different places. He served as a USDA food inspector in places like Burley, Idaho and Wenatchee, Washington. While living in Wenatchee Bob also ran a cherry orchard. His last career move was to Washington, D.C. in 1984 as a Compliance Officer. He retired from USDA in the mid 1990’s. Since his government retirement, Bob has been known for many diverse ventures. For several years he worked as a private investigators (PI) working for Joan M. Beach and Corporate Intelligence Researchers. He was also the “go to” person for just about anything that needed to be “fixed” from electronics to houses. Many of the PI jobs used his knowledge and skills in fulfilling cases. Bob worked on many local political campaigns through the years doing a variety of jobs that ranged from door to door campaigning to phone banks to working the polls. He was intensely interested in local and national news. He also loved to read and listen to music. Bob was a giving, loving man who always stood by and up for those he loved. He is survived by five biological children and one he chose. His daughter is Shari (Terry) Jaymes of Seattle, Washington; sons are Robert (Rochelle) Lawrence, Jr. of San Diego, California; Jonathon Lawrence, of Tampa, Florida, Matthew (Candy) Lawrence of Santa Clara, California, Tracey Lawrence of Santa Clara, California and CJ Church of Leesburg, Virginia. He also has four grandchildren. Bob was the youngest member of his family and was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ellen Prout, sister Virginia Gilchrest, and brother Curtis Lawrence. Bob is known by many as the voice for “Shirley’s Secretary” and as a mainstay for Church’s Store and adjoining properties. He and Shirley Sindelar shared their lives together, knowing each other for almost 31 years. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.