Eva Mae Lawson

In approximately 1944, the Heichel siblings were separated from their parents. Eva entered a girl’s school while her brothers and sisters were put into foster homes. Her youngest brother, Paul was adopted out, as well as the baby, Delores Ann. Eva later worked as a housekeeper when she finished her schooling.

In the spring of 1951, Eva moved to Washington DC to live with a friend named Dottie and eventually met Bobby R. Lawson. He was a service member in the U.S. Air Force, and she was working as a waitress. They married in January 1952 and then had four children, namely, Carolyn, Bobby, Janet, and Kenneth.

Bobby Sr. served time in Okinawa while Eva took care of Carolyn and while pregnant with Bobby Jr. Bobby Sr. came home after the Korean War to meet his son. The family moved back to Ohio from Pennsylvania where Janet was born and then later to Michigan where Kenneth was born. By September of 1960, Bobby Sr. was stationed in Bermuda. Four years later, they were sent to Fairchild Air Force Base and lived in Geiger Heights. After another four years, Bobby Sr. retired from the military, and they bought a home up on the South Hill in Spokane. Eva spent 16 years as a military wife, keeping house and taking care of her children.

Within a couple of years, the couple purchased a 7-11 franchise and worked in a number of different stores before finally retiring from that business in 1980. All of their children had left home by then. Bob worked as a repairman for arcade games until his passing in 1989.

Eva always loved traveling with her husband. They always took their annual trip to the coast and over to Reno in the fall. There were also numerous trips to the Seattle area.

Eva kept in touch with her brothers and sisters. Her youngest brother, Paul, was found and in 1992, the youngest, Delores Ann, now Joanie, was discovered living in the same area most of her life. The siblings had a family reunion at that time. The oldest brother, Harvey, had passed away in the early 1970’s. At this time, Joanie is the only surviving child.

Eva is also survived by two sons and a daughter. She had 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.