Charles Ii

Charles A. Lawson, II, 72, a 40-year resident of Linthicum, went home to be with the Lord on January 23, 2010, after a battle with frontotemporal dementia.


Charlie was born October 2, 1937, in Gary, Indiana. He graduated from Emerson High School in 1955. Charlie joined the Navy in June 1955, and served on the USS Abbot (DD-629) as a fire control technician. His highest rank was FTG2, 2nd class petty officer. He went to Purdue University for electrical engineering and graduated in 1963. He worked for Westinghouse/Northrop Grumman for 36 years and worked on the F-4 Phantom II jet, AWACS radar system, B1 Bomber and nuclear power plants. He received two patents. Charlie also went to Vietnam in June 1966 for 10 months as a Westinghouse engineer to assist the Marines in the maintenance of the radar in their jets.


Charlie was active at Linthicum Baptist Church for 30 years as a deacon, chairman of the deacons, adult Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Director, Outreach Director and Children's Church teacher. He also went on two mission trips to Prince Edward Island, Canada. Charlie was licensed as a preacher in 2000. He was involved in other Christian work outside the church. He was 1st vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention of MD/DE in 1995, a trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for 10 years, a board member of the Inner Harbor Ministry, and a speaker at the Helping Up Mission in Baltimore for 25 years. Charlie was a volunteer at the Billy Graham Telephone Ministry for 26 years and was a counselor and participated in other volunteer capacities in Baltimore for the Billy Graham Crusade and the Franklin Graham Festival. Nationally, he was involved with the Southern Baptist Convention and served on the executive committee. He also introduced the need to add a section about 'the family' to the Baptist Faith and Message Statement; it was adopted in 2000.


Charlie was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 47 ½ years, Marcella DeMoulin Lawson; his children, Deborah Guidry (Jim) of Crofton and Charles Lawson, III, (Rebecca) of Marriottsville; three granddaughters and one brother, Fred Lawson. He was predeceased by one brother, Larry Lawson. Charlie enjoyed reading, traveling, sports, computers, carpentry and mission work.