Lawrence Ray Lohse

Born February 20, 1934, at his grandmother’s house in the Heights of Houston, Lawrence, affectionately known as Slim or Bubba, was number 4 of seven siblings. The family moved to Jacinto City, where he grew up and later started his own family.

Slim surrendered his life to Christ and was baptized at Jacinto City Baptist Church when he was 12 and served in the church his entire life. He was ordained as a deacon at Market Street Baptist Church and Galena Park Baptist Church. He served in many capacities at University Baptist Church in Clear Lake; his specialty was running audio and media for their traditional service.

After graduating from Galena Park High School, Slim began working as a cable splicer for Houston Lighting and Power Company, moving up to supervisor. He worked for HL&P for 39 years on crews that installed and maintained the electrical infrastructure that supported the growth of Houston and the surrounding areas. These projects included the expansion of downtown Houston, construction of Houston Intercontinental Airport, the Galleria, most of the major shopping centers as well as underwater cables to supply Galveston Island.

On June 18, 1954, Slim married the love of his life, Tommie Ann Hardee, at Jacinto City First Baptist Church, and they celebrated 68 years together this past summer. They raised four sons on Kayla Lane in Galena Park before moving to Clear Lake after retirement.

Slim loved sports, baseball in particular, and coached all four sons in little league baseball as well as half of the neighborhood boys. He was well known and well-loved by the kids and parents as he would pick up the kids for practice in his pickup truck with everyone climbing in the back as he went around the neighborhood.

Slim was known for his ability to fix anything! Often, he could diagnose the problem over the phone with just a few tidbits of information and spent a lot of time at his sons’, siblings,’ and neighbors’ houses helping them with issues. He served his Bay Knoll Homeowners Association in Clear Lake for many years, assisting with projects. In his later years, he became a master stained-glass artist and was commissioned by numerous restaurants in Kemah to create stained-glass lamps for their décor.

Slim is preceded in death by his parents, Albert Richard Lohse and Zelma Lohse; brother, Albert Richard Lohse Jr., sisters Bernice Berger and Lorraine Gifford and great-grandson Wilson Lohse. He is survived by his brother, Thomas Lohse and twin sisters, Janette Johnson and Janice Mitchamore; his beloved wife, Tommie Ann Lohse; sons, Lawrence Ray Lohse, Jr. and wife, Gail; Jeffrey Neal Lohse; Albert Richard Lohse and wife, Jana; Gregory Alan Lohse and wife, Laura; granddaughters, Stacy Bartholomew and husband, Charlie and Hannah Lohse; grandsons, Lawrence Ray Lohse, III (Trey) and wife Meridith, Ryan Lohse and wife Callie, Tyler Lohse, and Jordan Lohse. Slim, also known as Grandpa, dearly loved his great-grands Grant, Asher, Jude, Eden, Richard, John, and Peter.

Slim was a wonderful, big-hearted man and known as someone who put his faith and his family first. We think maybe the Lord called him home because something needed to be repaired in heaven!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to University Baptist Church in Clear Lake, Texas.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Tuesday, January 17th at 10:30am, followed by a celebration of his life at 11am, both at University Baptist Church in Clear Lake, Texas. The family will attend a private interment following the service.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkEast-FHC.com for the Lohse family.