GENE R. LAWRENCE

HAMPDEN – Gene R. Lawrence passed away Feb. 20, 2009, after a long illness. He was born Nov. 22, 1936, in Pittsfield, the son of John and Carrie Lawrence. Gene graduated from Besse High School, Albion, in June 1955. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June 1955 and attended basic training at Sampson Air Force Base, New York. After completing basic, he attended instrument technical training at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. In April 1956 Gene was assigned to Johnson Air Force Base, Japan, where he served until he was reassigned to Dow Air Force Base in September 1958. Gene received an honorable discharge from the Air Force in February 1959. In April 1960 Gene joined the Maine Air National Guard as an instrument repairman and in August 1984 became the avionics guidance and control shop chief. He retired from the Air National Guard in October 1990. During his career, he worked on numerous aircraft. He was a member of the weapons loading team from 1961 to 1969 and an Augmentee firefighter/crash rescue from 1965 to 1975. He organized and became the first president of the MAINEiacs chapter No. 74 NCOA Graduates Association. Gene also served as a constable for the town of Levant and was a volunteer firefighter there. He was a member of the Jaycees of East Corinth and he served as Scoutmaster for Troop 51, East Corinth, for seven years. He is survived by his beloved and loving wife of 25 years, Catherine (Garrick) Lawrence; a son, Terry and his wife, Lisa, and granddaughter, Rachel, all of Greenville, S.C.; a daughter, Tracy of Ocala, Fla.; his mother, Carrie Lawrence of Pittsfield; a sister, Joanne Knowlton and her husband, Charles “Bob” Knowlton, of Freedom; two brothers, Dan Lawrence and his wife, Joyce, of Hopewell, Va., and John Lawrence of Reno, Nev.; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins; as well as many friends, including special friends, Randy Auxier and wife, Mavis, of Frankfurt, Ky., Arthur “Mick” Fish and his wife, Jody, of Glenburn, Gladyce Rafford of Bangor, Winston Shankel and wife, Cheryl, of Hampden, and so many others too numerous to mention. Gene was predeceased by his father, John Lawrence; a brother, Allen Lawrence of Newport; and a sister, Janice Sanborn of Pittsfield. At Gene’s request, there will not be any visiting hours or services. Gifts in his memory may be sent to MAINEiacs Charities, 103 Marran St., Suite 518, Bangor, ME 04401-8019. A service of Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor.