Charles "Leonard" Lawson

He was born on February 26, 1929 in Hardin County, Kentucky to the late Owen "Joe" Lawson, Sr. and Minnie Nichols Lawson.

Leonard proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. After his military service, he was employed for 28 years at The Olin Chemical Company in Brandenburg, Kentucky.

He attended Valley View Baptist Church in Vine Grove and actively participated in the Morrison Masonic Lodge #76 and was a member of their F and AM organization. Leonard was also a member of the American Legion Post #113 and the Military Veterans Organization, Amvets Post 103.

Leonard was a life-long, devoted, and talented musician, and enjoyed playing the violin, fiddle and guitar, and sometimes the keyboard. He enjoyed making violins and taught several violin lessons. Many years ago, Leonard competed and won the state senior fiddle championship.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eva Elizabeth Johnson Lawson; one daughter, Mary Lee Higgs; one son, Joseph “Joe” Lawson; brothers and sisters, Ralph Lawson, Harold Lawson, Owen (Mary) Lawson, Martha Hendershot and Shirley Pauline Smith; and son-in-law, James Barnes.

Survivors include his children, Charlie (Karen) Lawson, Jr. and Rayetta Barnes; a sister, Lillian (Larry) Weinrich; sister-in-law, Patty Lawson; seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral is at 11 AM on Friday, November 21, 2025 at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown with Pastor Mark Powell officiating.

Burial follows in Vine Grove Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Thursday, November 20th from 4 to 8 PM and continues after 9 AM Friday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed online at brownfuneral.com.