John J. Lawlor

John J. "Jack" Lawlor, died on August 2, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth A. Lawlor; their six children, Christine Hamilton and husband Billy, Joan Brantley and husband John, John M. Lawlor and wife Carol, Michael Lawlor and wife Jan, Patrick Lawlor and wife Veronica and Jaimie Jackson and husband Mark; 16 grandchildren; and 1 great grandchild. Jack and his wife Ruth were born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, two months and two blocks apart.

Jack was the first Eagle Scout in the "Irish" section of Wilkes-Barre, PA. In his youth he enjoyed camping in the Pocono Mountains. He was a WWII veteran who served as a B-17 tail-gunner in the 8th AF, 306th BG, Thurleigh, England. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 OLC, Purple Heart and POW Medal. He was wounded on his 33rd mission over the battlefield at Caen, France, when his plane was shot down.

He was captured by the Germans and was a POW for nine months. Jack married Ruth in 1945. He used the GI Bill to earn a Masters Degree from Syracuse University and made a career in Institutional Sales, spending nearly two decades with Central Distributing Company. Jack and Ruth are founding members of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and Jack is a charter member of St. Mark's KC Council 7613 and a Fourth Degree Knight. He was also a member of the Military Order of Purple Heart and VFW of U.S.