Joe Lawrence

Mr. Joe B. Lawrence, age 70, of Murray, Kentucky, died Wednesday, August 03, 2011, at his home.
He retired out of the Army after twenty two years of service; in which he received his Vietnamese Jump Wings, four Overseas Bars, RNV Campaign with sixty Device Presidential Unit Citations, Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five Campaign Stars, Parachutist Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm/Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions
After his retirement for the Army he served for thirteen years in the Department Army Civil Service with Murray State University ROTC as the Supply Technician; served as the Chief Range Official for the Murray State University Rifle Team; officiated the NCAA Championship Matches and Major Matches for twenty two years.
For the past few years he has served as a Supply Pastor and Lay Speaker for the United Methodist Church in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. He was currently serving the Liberty All and Carter’s Chapel United Methodist Churches in Huntington Tennessee,
He was also a past president of the Murray Calloway County Fair Board and was instrumental in starting and ran the Glory Bound Ministry for ten years. He was a member of the Goshen United Methodist Church, were he had served as a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of the Board, Trustee and also a member of the Willing Workers Sunday School Class
He was born in Calloway County Kentucky on July 2, 1941 to the late Nathan and Barnell Smith Lawrence.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Jones Lawrence in whom he was married February 7, 1963 in Murray, Kentucky; daughter, Teresa Lawrence of Murray, Kentucky; son, David Lawrence and wife Kendra of Knoxville, Tennessee; four sisters, LouAnn McCallon of Murray Kentucky, Ina Masters and husband Don of Coco Florida, Jean Eldon and husband Darryl of Fort Myers, Florida, Vicky Wilkerson, Garden City Georgia; brother, Thomas Lawrence and wife Anna of Fallon, Nevada; five grandchildren, Derrick Duffy, Eric Duffy, Chandra Lawrence, Trevor Lawrence, Karlei Lawrence.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August, 6, 2011 in the chapel of the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home. Rev. Mark Earheart, Rev, H.B. Fields, and Rev. David Allbritten will officiate with burial in the Goshen Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 Friday, August 5, 2011.
Expression of sympathy may be made to the Goshen Church Cemetery Fund, C/O Steve Sexton, 559 Airport Road, Murray Kentucky 42071. Online condolences may be made at www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com.