Arbie Clark Lawrence's Obituary
Arbie Clark Lawrence
March 21, 1918 ~ Nov. 29, 2015
Arbie Clark Lawrence, 97, a resident of Columbia County for over 70 years, passed away Nov. 29, 2015, at Avamere in St. Helens, Oregon.
Arbie was born March 21, 1918, to Reuel and O’Telia Lawrence, in Emily, Minnesota. He was raised in North Dakota, Montana and Oregon and graduated from Clatskanie High School.
Arbie served during World War II in the Army Air Corps from 1943-1946, earning the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and American Theatre Service Medal.
He was an oil distributor and owner of Lawrence Oil Company. Arbie retired in 1990.
Arbie was Commander of the VFW for several years and was a member of the Elks and Moose lodges, he was also a member of the St. Helens Golf Course and St Fredric Catholic Church.
He enjoyed golfing and was the St. Helens Men’s Club Golf Champion several years. Arbie also enjoyed playing cards, bowling and dancing. He was a pitcher for the Swedetown Warrior Baseball team.
Arbie was married to Esther Savela; they later divorced. He married Bertha “Bert” Gladue on Oct. 28, 1946; they were together until her death in 1980. Arbie married Mary Semling in 1988; she died in 2008.
Arbie is survived by a brother, Garald Lawrence of Pleasant Hill, Calif.; a sister, Beverly Green, of Portland; a son, Richard Lawrence of St. Helens; a daughter, Judy (Ken) Cox of Kenai, Alaska; a son, Scot (Sue) Lawrence of Portland; a son, Dave (Jill) Lawrence of Columbia City; daughter-in-law, Judy Lawrence of Charbonneau; sisters-in-law, Judy Lawrence of Scappoose and Kay Grummett of Alberta, Canada; a stepson, Dave (Glenna) Semling of Scappoose; a stepson, Mark (Sue) Semling of St. Helens; a stepson Gary (Peggy) Semling of the Bay Area of California; and 19 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his son, Dennis Lawrence; his infant son, Larry Lawrence and by his brothers, Ron and Max Lawrence.
A public Mass will be held at St. Fredric Catholic Church, 175 S. 13th St., in St. Helens, at 11 a.m., on Thursday, December 10, 2015. A Rosary will precede the service at 10:30 a.m. Interment takes place immediately following at Columbia Memorial Gardens.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016, at the St. Helens Golf Course.
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