John B. Lawson OBITUARY
John B. Lawson, Col. Ret. USAF, 86, died peacefully on Aug. 9, 2005, in Riverside. Born and raised in Antoine, Ark., he grew up in a loving family where family, church, storytelling and education were the foundations of life.
John B. Lawson had two complete careers. He was a pilot and leader in the U.S. Air Force, and he was a civilian educator. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force in war and peace. As a pilot during WWII, he ferried airplanes from the U.S. all over the world delivering airplanes for the war effort. During 1948-49, he flew over 150 missions in the Berlin Airlift and was awarded the Air Medal and the Medal of Human Action. In 1953, then Major Lawson was released from active duty to complete his education, whereupon he entered the education profession, while maintaining active status as an Air Force Reservist at Travis AFB in California. By 1957, he was fully credentialed and working as a teacher in elementary education in Vacaville.
In 1959, he completed his MA from Sacramento State College in School Administration and was promoted to Lt. Col. in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He continued to value education and completed his Doctoral Degree in Education (curriculum) at the University of California in Berkeley in 1966. That same year, he was promoted to Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was appointed as Director of Instruction, K-12, in Napa County. In July of 1968, he was recalled to active duty at the Pentagon as advisor on reserve affairs to the Inspector General, Washington, DC. While working on the IG’s staff, he also taught education classes for the University of Virginia and was a consultant to the University of Maryland Discovery Learning Program.
In 1971, he was transferred to Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, where he served as advisor evaluating reserve forces units throughout the USA. In 1976, Col. Lawson retired from the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and admitted as a distinguished member to the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Safety Hall of Fame. At that point, he energized his education career teaching education courses for California State University at San Bernardino and serving as Headmaster for Valley Preparatory School in Redlands from 1980-1986. During this period, he was active in the Sunrise Rotary of Redlands. From 1986 until his death, he devoted himself to serving his family, his church, and his community. He served as a consultant for the preschool established at The First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino called The Child Care Center. Although diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1998, John continued to bring service and kindness into every venue of his life.
In 2000, John and his beloved wife, Margarette, moved to Air Force Village West in Riverside where they lived until their deaths, which occurred three weeks apart in the summer of 2005. They always pledged eternal love to each other. They are survived by two daughters, Candee Corliss and Beth Boyea; one granddaughter; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in the Convocation Room at Air Force Village West, 17050 Arnold Dr., Riverside 92518.
Interment will be private at Riverside National Cemetery. Flowers may be sent. For those who so desire, donations may be made to The Child Care Center at the First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino, 1900 North D St., San Bernardino 92404; or The National Parkinson’s Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Ave./Bob Hope Rd., Miami, Fla. 33136-1494.
Arrangement are under the direction of Bobbitt Memorial Chapel, Inc., San Bernardino.
Visit the online guest book at www.thereporter.com.
