Lawson Jr., John Rufus

John Rufus Lawson, Jr., 84, of Virginia St. in Pearisburg, departed this life Thursday evening, December 9, 2010 at Riverview Nursing Home in Rich Creek. Born in Sugar Grove, West Virginia on September 23, 1926, he was a son of the late John R. Sr. and Mabel Bane Lucas Lawson. For fifty one years he was employed in the mines at A P Green Lime Co. at Kimballton; he was a member of Angels Rest Baptist Fellowship in Pearisburg; he was a devoted bluegrass musician playing in the Pulaski Grass Band and the VFW Band; he was a veteran of the United States Army World War II; he was a member of VFW Post 6000 in Narrows where he had served as chaplain for several years and also served in the honor guard; he was a member of American Legion Post 68 in Narrows; and he was a member of Intermont Lodge No 106 AF&AM in Narrows. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Curtis and Harold Lawson, and his sisters, Avis Staten, Lena Bratton, and Irene Harry. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of sixty-three years, Opal Harry Lawson; his daughters and sons-in-law, Sonja and Arnold (Sherry and Pete) Ferguson of Narrows, Dreama Bostic of Glen Lyn, Sandra Stanwitz of Christiansburg; his grandchildren, John Stanley Ferguson of Narrows, Troy Wayne Ferguson of Pearisburg, Melissa Ann Blankenship of Christiansburg, Josh Stanwitz of San Diego, Calif., Bethany Graham of Christianburg; his great-grandchildren, Gibson Graham, Lauren Ferguson, Olivia Ferguson, Huntar Ferguson, Shannon Ferguson, D. J. Blankenship, Garrett Graham, Slater Ferguson; and his sister, Shirley L. Jones of Nemours, W.Va. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Kendall Funeral Home, 605 Snidow St., Pembroke with the Rev. Dr. Don McKinney, the Rev. Dr. Fred Austin, and the Rev. Gary Poff officiating. Burial will follow in Angels Rest Memory Gardens in Narrows where VFW Post 6000 in Narrows, American Legion Post 311 in Pembroke, Post 68 in Narrows and Post 145 in Peterstown will conduct military graveside rites. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Online condolences may be sent by visiting kendallfuneralhome.com.