Bill was born in Holland, Michigan, the son of Lorenzo Lawrence and Adealia (Wedeman). He married Gilletta Gillette on June 11, 1927, and they made their home in Muskegon, Michigan. A union man, he worked 26 years for Continental Motors Corporation. He was the father of William Dale and Loretta Lyola. A true environmentalist, he was one of the founding members of the Muskegon Conservation Club. He was a real outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, picking mushrooms, etc. He loved his family, and he also loved God. He was also a founding member of Jackson Avenue Congregational Church (which later became Orchard View Congregational Church) where he served the Lord as a deacon and an usher. He helped others when he could, often taking in family members when necessary and helping to get them on their feet. When his little grandchildren needed him most, he moved into his son's home along with his wife, Gilletta, and helped care for them for over six years after they lost their mother. He would take them fishing, and tell them stories. Much later in life, when Gilletta suffered a stroke and then Alzheimer's disease, she had to go to a nursing home. Bill went to the nursing home faithfully every day to feed her, until he, himself, suffered a stroke in 1982. He never fully recovered, and hated being a burden to his family. Two years later, unable to see his beloved Gilletta every day or roam his precious woodlands, he passed away at home. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Enos; sister, Lydia (McCullough); half-brothers, John Jones and George Lawrence; and half-sisters, Estella, Mae (Tingley), Minnie (DeFeeyter), and Ruth (De Feyter). He was survived by Gilletta, his wife of 57 years; his son, William Dale (Patricia) Lawrence; his daughter, Loretta (Jerry) Ross; his grandchildren, Lois Ann (Dennis) Chester, Will Lawrence, Earl Lawrence, Eric Ross, Susan Ross, Anne Lawrence and Steven Lawrence; step-grandchildren, Jean (James) Ritsema, Frances (John) Conner, Mark (Nancy) Collins, Timothy (Lynn) Collins, Cheryl Collins and Anthony Collins; his great-grandchildren, Julie, Becky, and Kevin; and was "Uncle Bill" to many very special nieces and nephews. He was the best husband, father, grandpa, uncle, brother, and friend a person could ever hope to know. His entire family all remember him very fondly, and still miss him very much.
Bill was born in Holland, Michigan, the son of Lorenzo Lawrence and Adealia (Wedeman). He married Gilletta Gillette on June 11, 1927, and they made their home in Muskegon, Michigan. A union man, he worked 26 years for Continental Motors Corporation. He was the father of William Dale and Loretta Lyola. A true environmentalist, he was one of the founding members of the Muskegon Conservation Club. He was a real outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, picking mushrooms, etc. He loved his family, and he also loved God. He was also a founding member of Jackson Avenue Congregational Church (which later became Orchard View Congregational Church) where he served the Lord as a deacon and an usher. He helped others when he could, often taking in family members when necessary and helping to get them on their feet. When his little grandchildren needed him most, he moved into his son's home along with his wife, Gilletta, and helped care for them for over six years after they lost their mother. He would take them fishing, and tell them stories. Much later in life, when Gilletta suffered a stroke and then Alzheimer's disease, she had to go to a nursing home. Bill went to the nursing home faithfully every day to feed her, until he, himself, suffered a stroke in 1982. He never fully recovered, and hated being a burden to his family. Two years later, unable to see his beloved Gilletta every day or roam his precious woodlands, he passed away at home. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Enos; sister, Lydia (McCullough); half-brothers, John Jones and George Lawrence; and half-sisters, Estella, Mae (Tingley), Minnie (DeFeeyter), and Ruth (De Feyter). He was survived by Gilletta, his wife of 57 years; his son, William Dale (Patricia) Lawrence; his daughter, Loretta (Jerry) Ross; his grandchildren, Lois Ann (Dennis) Chester, Will Lawrence, Earl Lawrence, Eric Ross, Susan Ross, Anne Lawrence and Steven Lawrence; step-grandchildren, Jean (James) Ritsema, Frances (John) Conner, Mark (Nancy) Collins, Timothy (Lynn) Collins, Cheryl Collins and Anthony Collins; his great-grandchildren, Julie, Becky, and Kevin; and was "Uncle Bill" to many very special nieces and nephews. He was the best husband, father, grandpa, uncle, brother, and friend a person could ever hope to know. His entire family all remember him very fondly, and still miss him very much.
