Ralph D. Lawson, 89, of Grand Island passed away on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at Good Samaritan Society in Grand Island.
Celebration of Life services will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at Peace Lutheran Church in the Sanctuary. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service. Pastors Mike Reiners and Rod Armon will officiate. Private family burial will take place in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Ralph was born on October 13, 1927, in Elgin, Nebraska, the son of Virgil and Agnes (Fink) Lawson.
He grew up on the farm in Antelope County and attended school in Elgin, Nebraska. Following High School, he taught country school and enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1948 and was honorably discharged in January 1953. He was a Hospital Corpsman stationed in Bangor and Seattle Washington. After his military service, Ralph, went on to college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he studied engineering.
Ralph was united in marriage to Wilma “Jean” Nelson from Norfolk, NE on December 27, 1953 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Norfolk, NE. In December, Ralph and Jean would have been married 63 years. His wife, Jean Lawson, passed away two months ago on August 23rd, 2016.
Ralph was the owner of Lawson Communications, the family business, in Grand Island, NE, in the 1960’s where he installed radio tower antennas around many counties in Nebraska. The family moved to Ogallala, NE in 1968 when Ralph was employed as an engineer for TRW Inc for 20 years overseeing the production line of TV capacitors. For the last 20 years, Ralph and Jean have resided in Grand Island to be near family.
While living in Ogallala, Ralph loved boating and camping at Lake McConaughy. For the last 20 winters, Ralph and Jean had enjoyed travelling to South Padre Island, TX where Ralph liked to play golf and enjoy the mild winter.
Ralph has been a member of Peace Lutheran Church for over 20 years and volunteered to oversee the sound-board at many church services.
Ralph is survived by his children: Mark Lawson of Grand Island, Pete (Ornuma) Lawson of Woodbridge, VA, Terri Faulder of Lincoln, NE, Jill Lawson of Seoul, South Korea, Lynne (Tom) Werner of Grand Island, and Karen (Brooks) Rarden of Centennial, CO.
Ralph loved and enjoyed each one of his grandchildren which includes Grant Faulder, Jordan Faulder, Adam Werner, Jane Werner, Elliott Rarden, Emma Rarden and Vincent Vest.
Ralph is survived by his sisters, Phyllis Kinney of Elgin, NE and Marion Gilsdorf of Norfolk, NE and sister-in-law, Diana (Lynn) Hoepfinger of Ludington, MI.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Lawson, parents, sister, Betty Lea Stratton and son-in-law, Chuck Faulder
Memorials are suggested to Peace Lutheran Church.
Words of comfort and compassion may be left for the family at www.giallfaiths.com
