Ernest D. Lawson
April 15, 1929 – June 28, 2018
Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation or service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, c/o the funeral home.
Obituary
Went to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 28, 2018. Ernest was born in Kalamazoo, April 15, 1929, the son of Leonard & Ura (Bailey) Lawson. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church for many years. Mr. Lawson was a WWII Marine Corps Veteran and worked for the Upjohn Co. for 32 years, retiring in 1990. Ernest was an avid antique bottle collector and co-founder of the Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Club. He was also an active member of the Southwestern Michigan Seek & Search Metal Detecting Club of Plainwell. Ernie was a volunteer story reader, song leader and visitor for many different senior citizen individuals and groups. On November 9, 1949, he married Irene M. Hitzler, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters and spouses, Janet & Donald Church of Brentwood, TN; Patricia & Samuel Roach of Kalamazoo; three grandchildren Derek (Katherine) Church, Kevin (Stephanie) Church and Lindsay (David) Brooks; Great-grandchildren Garrison, Lawson, Timothy, Liam, Carter, Parker & Preston; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by an infant son in 1950; his parents, Leonard & Ura (Bailey) Lawson; a sister Marjorie Munn of Pennsylvania; and two brothers, Leonard and Robert Lawson.
Ernie was a wonderful Sunday School teacher and we thank God that he passed through our lives in our early struggles of marriage.
Ernie was such a wonderful Christian man. Ernie was our Sunday School Teacher when Pat and I were first married 50 years ago at Bethel Baptist Church. He was an early mentor for us. We have very fond memories of Ernie and that Sunday School group of about 26 couples married in 1967,68 or 69. What a marvelous start we got in our young married life because of Ernie. He will always be fondly remember. Welcome to your Heavenly Home thou good and faithful servant.
We were also part of that young marrieds Sunday school class almost 50 years ago. Ernie was a very dedicated and inspiration man. We praise the Lord for his help as we started our newly married journey. We are sad to hear of his passing, but celebrate his faithfulness to the Lord.
I\’m the granddaughter of his brother Robert Lawson. Remember meeting him at my grandpas funeral. He wrote some awesome stories about their childhood that I hope to oneday read again. He was a wonderful writer and will be greatly missed.