Larry George Lawing

Born in Mount Holly, NC in 1942, Larry was the son of the late George Cook Lawing and Louise Watts Lawing. He graduated from Mount Holly High School in 1960 where he was a standout student-athlete. While Larry excelled in multiple sports, football was his passion. Scoring 76 points in his senior year, he was the leading scorer for his team as well as the county. His talent, leadership and drive earned numerous accolades, as well as All-Conference and All-District honors.

Larry began his college career at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Although not recruited to play football, his passion for the game led him to try out as a “walk-on” in the spring of his freshman year. While he made the team, illness sidelined him in the fall of his sophomore year. Once again, he went out for spring practice, ultimately earning a place on the varsity team and a full athletic scholarship. Larry played defensive back his junior year, and moved to half back his senior year, finishing as Appalachian’s most productive half back since 1953. He led the Mountaineers and as well as the Carolinas Conference in yards rushed and points scored, gaining 824 yards on 104 rushes, and tallying 74 points in the nine-game season - all while making the Dean’s List.

Shortly after earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Larry was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC, where he served two years as a personnel specialist in Army Communications and achieved the rank of E-4 specialist.

Upon discharge in 1968, Larry began a career in personnel and human resource management, working with the Proximity Print Works Division of Cone Mills and later, Dunning Industries. In 1975, he joined Parks Mazda, and in 1990, City Motors, where he worked in sales and financing. Feeling a little bored after retiring in 2009, Larry took a part-time job as a delivery driver with O’Reilly Auto Parts, offering him an opportunity to “talk cars” and make some very special friends.

In August of 2014, Larry’s hometown honored him with induction into the Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame. Anyone who ever saw Larry play high school or college football recognized how much he loved the game. At 170 pounds, he couldn’t overpower many opponents but his speed and his ability to spin and twist made him a force on the field. Sports writers often referred to him as “Fleet Horse” Lawing.

Larry was the kind of person everyone loved to be around. Handsome, well dressed and full of charm, he had a great sense of humor and made friends everywhere he went - coaches, teammates, coworkers and neighbors. He loved watching sports, playing golf with Lane, hearing about Lyle’s band adventures and watching his grandchildren grow and compete in their own sporting events. Larry loved so many things: deviled eggs, beach music, and leading the love of his life onto the dance floor whenever possible. One of the highlights of each year was the trip he and Bobbi made to Ocean Isle Beach with Lane and his family. There was good food, beach golf, bocce ball contests, loud music and of course, rides on the golf cart to satisfy his late-night ice cream cravings.

While pulmonary fibrosis took so much from Larry in the last 18 months of his life, he found joy in the little things: daily runs to Biscuitville, waving as neighbors walked by with their dogs, talking with his sons, listening to the banter of his 4 teenage grandchildren and holding Bobbi’s hand. Larry will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who love him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Louise and George Lawing; his brother Roger Lawing; sister-in-law Lou Gibson Stadler; daughter-in-law Liz Lawing and his dearly beloved grand-pup, Bentley.

Larry is survived by his loving wife Bobbi Gibson Lawing and their son Lane Lawing (Hollie) of Greensboro, NC; and son Lyle Lawing of Los Angeles, California. He is also survived by grandchildren: Mady Lawing, Kensi Lawing, Ava Willard and Grayson Willard, all of Greensboro, NC.

Those also surviving Larry are his sister-in-law Faye Lawing of Charlotte, NC; sister-in-law Ann Gibson Cowles (Art) of Summerfield, NC; brother-in-law Paul Gibson (Jane) of Greensboro, NC; sister-in-law Patti Gibson Nelson (Andy) of Greensboro, NC; brother-in-law Garr Stadler of Myrtle Beach, SC; brother-in-law Jeff Gibson (Ellen) of Charlotte, NC. Larry is cherished by 14 nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 12 to 2:00 pm at Oak Ridge Meadows Club House located at 5400 Sportime Place Greensboro, NC 27410. (Old Oak Ridge Road at Oak Ridge Meadow Drive)

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be forwarded to AuthoraCare Collective, 2504 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405. Online Donations can be made here:

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Online condolences can be shared with the family at Dignity Memorial-Obituaries/LarryLawing