California Obituaries, Los Angeles County

Submitted by Peggy Hooper 

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The Downey Eagle
October 9, 1998 Volume 6 Number 33

Services today for Richard H. Lawrence
DOWNEY-Services will be today (Friday, Oct. 9) at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 10544 
Downey Ave., for Richard Herbert Lawrence, a Downey resident since 1951, who died Oct. 4 at USC-
Norris Cancer Center due to complications from colon cancer. 
He was 75, born Oct. 23, 1922 in Aromas, California to Kenneth McCray Lawrence and Mabel Ethelyn 
Wilson. He grew up in southeast Los Angeles and attended Loma Vista Elementary, Bell High School 
(Class of 1940), and USC (MB '48, MA '49). 
"Load" spent three years on the USC Trojan offensive line (1940-42) before joining the U.S. Army serving 
as a captain in World War II (1942-45) and again in Korea (1950-51). 
His professional career started in 1949 as an elementary school teacher, and physical education and 
youth services consultant. 
He continued through the ranks as elementary vice principal, and in 1958 was promoted from principal 
to the Budget Division in the Office of the Superintendent. He represented Los Angeles Unified School 
District in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento for 12 years. He was then promoted to assistant superintendent-
staff relations in 1969, associate superintendent-personnel division in 1970-71, area superintendent-Area J 
(San Fernando Valley, 1971-75), assistant superintendent-Division of Education Support Services (1975-78), 
Area 3 superintendent (South Central Los Angeles, 1978-80), Area 9 superintendent (San Fernando Valley, 
1981-83), and assistant superintendent, Special Projects Office of the Superintendent (1981-83). On his 
retirement in 1983, he continued to serve his profession and community as director of capital development 
for Junior Achievement of Southern California, coordinating a $6.3 million construction project (1983-94). 
In 1993 he began assisting the Foundation for the Junior Blind in a $10 million project. Dick also led the 
Association of California School Administrators (1990-94) as state retirement consultant and received the 
Robert E. Kelly award for distinguished service. 
A faithful USC Trojan, he served on the boards of the USC Trustees, USC Alumni Association, Spirit of Troy 
Marching Band, USC Football Alumni Club, President's Circle Support Group, was president of EDUCARE 
(1968-69), Cardinal and Gold, the Education Alumni Association, Women of Troy, and Skull & Dagger. He 
was the honored recipient of distinguished university awards, including the USC Alumni Service Award in 
1974, the Fred B. Olds Support Group Man of the Year in 1978, and was honored in May with the distinguished 
R.O.S.E. Award. He was also recently chosen as chairman of the California Retired Teachers Association. 
Survivors include his wife, Edith of Downey; a sister, Patricia Park of Ventura; sons Gibson of Westminster, 
Colorado, Jeffrey of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Nelson of Vancouver, Washington; eight grandchildren, 
one great-grandchild, and countless relatives and friends. 
Graveside services will follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. Arrangements are by Rose Hills. 
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to Junior Achievement of Southern California, 
Inc., 6250 Forest Lawn Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90068; the Kurka Foundation Fund, 22122 Londelius St., 
West Hills, CA 91304; the Foundation for the Junior Blind, 5300 Angelus Vista Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90043; 
or the USC School of Education, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90007.