Marvin Eldon Lawson, age 91, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, passed away on August 25, 2022.
Marvin was born near Wasola, Missouri on April 24, 1931. After his family eventually moved to Oklahoma, Marvin graduated from Sapulpa High School with the class of 1950. He married his beloved wife, Joan, in 1951 and enjoyed their life together until her death in 2006.
Marvin is survived by five children (and their spouses): Gary Lawson (Tom), Diana Holton (Ron), Kevin Lawson (Kristine), Chris Lawson, and Annie Erickson (Rob). Additionally, Marvin leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren and a host of others that he considered his own in addition to may nieces, nephews and cousins.
Marvin is preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Joan, parents: Olas and Elma. brothers: Troy and Earl and his grandson, Colby Simmons.
As a young boy, he was known for riding his horse to school. On the way, he would do some squirrel hunting, stop by the post office to sell squirrels, then head to school. Summers were spent traveling across the US harvesting wheat.
During his latter high school years and after graduation, he worked at the original Frankoma Pottery for John Frank and was his right hand man. Shortly after that, he helped build the large tower that stands to this day, at Sun Oil in Tulsa. While at Sun, (DX Refinery), a work incident led to Marvin’s work overalls being on display at the Museum of Science and Industry. Chicago, IL., as a safety example. Marvin was a man of many talents, but his biggest talent of all was being a master mechanic. Throughout his adult life, he was a shop Manager for the Fieker American Motors Dealership, Standard Motor Supply, and Kennedy Buick. In the early 80’s, he was the Auto Mechanics Instructor at Sapulpa High School and then went on to be the Automotive Supervisor at American Institute of Technology, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, teaching a total of 130 students while at AIT. When he no longer worked in a shop, he set up his own “Marvin’s Tune Shop” in his garage and continued to work on vehicles until he “officially” retired; although, he never could quite stop working on vehicles.
Marvin’s selfless community contributions involved numerous roles within the Sapulpa Public School system including 59 years of serving on the chain gang, little league baseball/basketball/girls’ softball, Boy Scouts and Sacred Heart Catholic Church. While at Sacred Heart he was one of the founding members of the Charter Group who started the Sapulpa Chapter of the Knights of Columbus.
There will be a rosary service and gathering at the Sacred Heart Church in Sapulpa on Thursday, September 1, from 6-8 pm.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church at 10 am, Friday, September 2, 2022. Interment will follow at Green Hill Memorial Cemetery.
