Joseph Marion Lawrence Jr.

Growing up, Joe lived in Houston, TX and Oklahoma City, OK. In 1956, after his parents divorced, he moved with his father to the Washington D.C. area. He went to high school in Arlington, VA but graduated from Bladensburg High School in Bladensburg, Maryland. It was in high school that he met the love of his life, Lucia Naylor.

Joe and Lu were married on November 27, 1963. They lived a life together filled with friends and interests far and wide and varying for almost 59 years. Along the way they had two daughters, Leigh (Lawrence) O’Brien and Lynn Lawrence.

Joe spent many years working as an electronics technician for NASA and NASA contractors. His love of all things aviation, space, and technology followed him throughout his life and brought about many, many years of fun family adventure. Joe’s model airplane hobby meant weekend trips to the “flying field” and took the family all over the country for fly-ins and contests. Joe moved on to helicopters and they were even more exciting. While he didn’t get the chance to fly much himself these last few years, he was able to make a few trips to the field to enjoy watching others take to the skies…especially young flyers!

Joe took to computers during their very early years and we considered him our personal IT guy. From the Radio Shack TRS 80 computer to the big screen Apple he was a tech guy through and through and tried it all…all machines, all software, and all of the gadgetry to go with it. 3D and laser printers captured Joe’s attention as well and he always had a “big project” going.

Joe is also survived by his wife, two daughters, a grandson, Kyle O’Brien, and a son-in-law, Robert Passaglia (Lynn). We hope that those that he touched, inspired, taught, and laughed with will take a moment to leave a comment here.

We love you, Joseph (Joe/Jody)…Dad…Pop Pop. Your spirit lives on in all of us. We are better because of you and we are so lucky to have been a part of your life.

An appropriate celebration of Joe’s life will be held at a later date.