Gilbert Norman Lawrence

Gilbert Norman Lawrence, beloved husband and father, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, crossed over to his eternal home on Saturday, October 17, 2020. He was 84.

Mr. Lawrence called Pitman, New Jersey, home for more than 35 years before moving to Effort, Pennsylvania, and then Murrells Inlet, in retirement.

Mr. Lawrence was born Dec. 1, 1935 in Bayonne, New Jersey, the youngest of five children to the Rev. Norman Lawrence and Lena Lawrence (nee. Barton). Mr. Lawrence graduated from Woodbury High School in 1953 before joining the United States Army.

A proud veteran, he served three years on active duty, most of it stationed in Germany. After his discharge, he served 42 years in the United States Army Reserve with the 537th Engineering Battalion and the 78th Training Division. He retired as a Command Sergeant Major.

Even in retirement, he continued to support his fellow servicemen and servicewomen as a member of American Legion Post 49 (Woodbury, New Jersey), Post 927 (Gilbert, Pennsylvania) and Post 178 (Murrells Inlet). He served several years as the adjutant and president of the home association for Gilbert Post 927, and he also served on its executive board.

His service to country was matched by his service to youth.

Upon leaving active duty military service, Mr. Lawrence attended Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) in Ewing, New Jersey, earning his Bachelor of Arts Industrial Education degree in 1962, and Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in Glassboro, New Jersey, earning his Master’s degree in Industrial Education in 1973.

He taught industrial arts for the Clearview Regional School District, in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, for more than 30 years and was a member of the South Jersey Vocational Association, New Jersey Industrial Arts Association, National Industrial Arts Association, Gloucester County Education Association, New Jersey Education Association and National Education Association.

Mr. Lawrence also taught as an adjunct lecturer at Gloucester County College (now Rowan College of South Jersey) for more than a decade.

He served for many years as an adult leader for the Southern New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America (now Garden State Council), volunteering at Roosevelt Scout Reservation and Camp Grice in Elmer, New Jersey.

Mr. Lawrence was predeceased by his parents, Rev. Norman Lawrence and Lena Lawrence; stepmother Marie (Briggs); sister Virginia Grant; brothers Barton Lawrence and George Robert Lawrence; and first wife Joan (Cambridge).

Mr. Lawrence is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of Murrells Inlet; a son, Mark Lawrence, of Ruskin, Florida; a daughter, Cheryl Ann Lawrence, of Salisbury, North Carolina; and two step daughters, Deborah Moore, of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania; and Elaine Machnik, of Annandale, New Jersey.

Services will be private.

To view this obituary online or to offer words of comfort through the online guest book, kindly visit the funeral home website at, www.burroughsfh.com

Burroughs Funeral Home & Cremation Services (843-651-1440) is honored to assist the family.

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