William Lawrence

Bill was born in 1948 in Chicago, IL. The family moved to Youngstown, OH where he grew up and attended school.

He loved motorsports his whole life. When he was a kid, he was a successful go-kart racer. He once ran an exhibition race with the actor, Paul Newman. As he got older he switched to motorcycles and spent many weekends at the track with his family. Recently, Bill spent many weekends working on and racing his go-kart at Albemarle Speedway and at a track in Windsor, Virginia with his friends from 757 Karts.

Bill held many different jobs in his life. He spent many years installing carpet. He also worked as a Maintenance Superintendent for Harrison Lear at properties across the Peninsula. In addition, he traveled the world as a quality control technician for J & J Maintenance. He retired from Taylor Contracting where he was an HVAC installer and tech. In every position he held, he mentored and taught the young men working for him. Many have commented that their lives and careers were changed when they met Bill. No matter what his title, Bill was always known as a man who would go out of his way to help. He had a reputation as a kind and generous person, who was always available to lend a hand, no matter what the job.

Bill was an involved father. He was always ready to take on the role of coach for baseball, softball and football teams as well as president of the boosters. He was also the one who always took the team out for ice cream and pizza, win or lose. For the past eight years and throughout his retirement, Bill was an active and devoted grandfather. In the summertime, he often spent his mornings supervising swim team practice at Kingswood Pool. In the fall, he could be found on the sidelines assistant coaching for the Williamsburg Hornets, where he also served as a Blue Hat.

Bill and his wife, Jean, shared their 48th wedding anniversary together on December 9th. In his usual thoughtfulness, he had arranged to have flowers and candy delivered to the love of his life. It was just like him to be thinking of her even as he dealt with his illness.

Bill is preceded in death by his mother and father, Ray and Isabelle Lawrence of Youngstown, Ohio; his sister, Donna Ewers of Calumet City, Illinois; and his granddaughter, Taylor Adkins of Hampton, Virginia.

Bill is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jean Lawrence; his children, Christy Krpicak and her husband, Matt, of Struthers, Ohio, Paul Lawrence and his wife, April and Amy Lugand and her husband, Yves; five grandchildren, Trevor and Tabitha Krpicak and Adeline, Kathryn, and John Lawrence and many nieces and nephews, who loved Uncle Bill.

We would like to thank the staff at Riverside Cancer Center and Riverside Hospice for their support. We would also like to thank our friends and family for their love and prayers throughout Bill’s illness. Because of COVID restrictions, we plan to celebrate Bill’s life in a virtual remembrance ceremony. The Celebration of Life Service will be broadcast Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 3:00 PM on the Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home Facebook page. Details will be shared through Facebook in the coming days.

Friends have asked about memorial contributions. If you are so inclined, Edmarc Hospice for Children has been a wonderfully meaningful organization to Bill and our family. https://edmarc.org/donate-now/ or Edmarc Hospice for Children, 516 London Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704