Carl Ephraim Lawson, was born on January 14, 1924, in South Charleston. He passed away on November 21, 2010. He was the son of Emro Lawson and Vesta Griffith Lawson; he was the grandson of Ephraim Griffith. Carl joined the United States Army Air Corp, at the age of eighteen and was assigned to the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, in the China Burma India Campaign. At the end of WVII, he returned to Yawkey and fell in love with the love of his life and his wife of sixty-three years, Wynona Gazele Stephens Lawson. Prior to their marriage Carl joined the West Virginia Air National Guard 130th Unit which was called to active duty and resulted in subsequent assignments in Godman Field, Kentucky and Clovis, New Mexico.
A few years after returning to Charleston, Carl and Gazele became the proud parents of their daughter, Kathy, and several years later added a second daughter, Kim to their family. A home was purchased in Angel Terrace and Carl became first a member and then an Elder, Youth Director and Treasurer for Oakhurst Presbyterian Church. In 1984 Carl retired from the West Virginia Air National Guard, with a rank of Senior Master Sergeant, and was recognized as being the last active charter member of the West Virginia Air National Guard. Retirement brought a new career, as Carl became a certified tax consultant and lifetime member of National Tax Preparer’s Association. Carl continued in his new civilian career until he turned eighty. He was an active volunteer working with the Red Cross as a Board Member and as a member of the Davis Creek Lion’s Club.
He loved gardening and was the recipient of a recognition award from the Angel Terrace Garden Club for h is lawn and flowerbeds. He was an avid collector of Heisey Depression Glassware and was a member of the Heisey Collectors of America Association. Most importantly he was a devoted spouse, father and grandfather who will be lovingly remembered by those he left behind; his wife, Gazele, his daughters, Kathy Gregor and Kim Lawson, his grandsons Matthew, Adam and Patrick Gregor and Caleb Hughes and his granddaughter, Elizabeth Hughes. He is survived by his sister Mildred Lavender and his brother Cecil Lawson and predeceased by his brother, Glenn. He passed away at home after a long illness on November 21, 2010.
Funeral service will be at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 1:00pm with Pastor David Bowman officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston. Family and Friends will gather 2 hours prior to the service. The family would like to thank Dr. William Harris, as Carl always attributed his longevity to Dr. Harris and to the nurses and therapists, with Amedisys, that helped him to fulfill his last wish to stay at home.