William "Bill" Lawson

William "Bill" Lawson, 78, of Morganton, NC went to his Heavenly home on Friday, October 4, 2013 following an extended illness. Born November 21, 1934 in McDowell County, NC, he was a son of the late John Lawson and Alma Hampton Lawson. Bill was an active member of Burkemont Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the US Navy, the US Coast Guard, and the US Coast Guard Reserve, and served during the Korean War, the Cuban Missile crisis, and the Vietnam conflict. He was stationed on the Destroyer DDR Newman K. Perry and a Destroyer escort, the Willie C. Law. After retiring from the Navy, Bill worked for the NC Department of Corrections. He loved sports, coached Little League baseball teams, and was an avid fisherman.Left to cherish Bill’s memory is his wife of 46 years, Joyce Ann Lowery Lawson of the home; sons, Keith Lawson and companion, Connie Bolick, and Michael Lawson and his wife, Janet, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Lucas Lawson, Eli Lawson, and Kasey Lawson Miller and her husband, Jon; sisters, Wanda Greer of Marion, NC, and Margaret Mayfield of Morganton; and brothers, Dallas Lawson and Carol Lawson, both of Old Fort, NC.In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by brothers, Homer, Avery, and Dewey Lawson.Funeral services will be held at 4:30 pm, Monday, October 7, 2013 at Burkemont Baptist Church with the Reverends Eddy Bunton and Dr. David Mills officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors provided by the N.C. National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends Monday from 3:00 pm until 4:30 at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Burkemont Baptist Church, 4668 Burkemont Rd., Morganton, NC 28655. Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.