Donald Andrew Lawson, Sr., was born on August 23, 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the late Turner Beatrice Lawson Clark. He was the eldest of four children. Don was raised by his grandparents Turner and William Lawson. He accepted Christ at an early age attending parochial schools. He was "adopted" in love by the late Annabelle Johnson Leonard Pretot, Mother of his best friend Bill Leonard, who became his brother and he gained another two brothers and one sister. He received his high school education in the Cincinnati Public School system attending Robert A. Taft High School. He loved sports and excelled in track and football. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps attending basic training in San Diego, California. His sons, who would later follow in his footsteps as Marines, affectionately referred to him as a "Hollywood" Marine. He proudly served his country in the Vietnam War and was discharged as a Corporal. He was employed at Kenner Products as a general laborer in the late 1960's where he would later meet his future wife, Myrtle Griffith. He was promoted to Supervisor in 1971. Don and Myrtle were united in Holy Matrimony on April 12, 1974. Don had four children from his previous marriage and Myrtle had five. He was a family man so blending both families was very important to him. To their union one child was born, bringing the family total to ten children. Don believed in being a provider for his family and made sure to model the picture of a hard worker for all his children. After a work related accident severed part of his finger he started working in the transportation industry doing dispatch and driving for twenty-four years until he retired in 2007. There wasn't a street in Cincinnati that he couldn't tell you how to get to and would describe in detail the surrounding area so you could find your way. Don was an avid story teller. His high school football stories are "legendary" with his children and grandchildren where Taft would outscore their opponents sometimes beating them by fifty points. His stories of how he would do foot races with not only his children but all the kids in the neighborhood and could beat every one of them were amusing especially since the distance he beat them by would grow each time he told the story. Everyone knows the stories of the bugle corps competitions, discipline for the unauthorized house parties, the Don Lawson Punishment, the heat seat, bowling tournaments, pop up school visits, meetings with teachers, family holidays, the Sunday Afternoon Bowling League, Happy Couples get away weekends and parties. At the heart of every story is the same theme, a man that loved his wife, his children, his family and friends, and believed that through hard work and discipline the possibilities were endless. As an adult Don was very active in church and was a part of the Trustee Board at Winton Hills Presbyterian Church. In 1990 when Myrtle returned to her childhood church home to worship with her Aunt Myrtle Reese, the family began attending First Baptist Church of West College. Don was led by the Spirit to join and was baptized. Don went home to glory on Sunday, May 22, 2016. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle L. Lawson; daughter Eugenia Williams; two brothers Johnny and Eddie Leonard; and brother in law, Robert McCullough. Don leaves to cherish his memory, five sons: Stanley Griffith (Bernice), Nathaniel L. Griffith (Lori), Kenneth Griffith I, Duane L. Griffith (Lavone), Donald A. Lawson, Jr.; four daughters: Rodonna Lawson, Davine Williams (James) Rebecca Lawson, and Donnitta Thomas (Billy); two brothers: William Leonard (Wanda) and Lucky Lawson; three sisters: Eugenia Wilburn, Shirley Hunter, and Carolyn McCullough; nineteen grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by: Valdas Griffith, Patricia Mitchell, Doretha Powell, and April Samuels; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and other special relatives and friends. Visitation is from 10:00 am until 11:00 am, on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at the First Baptist Church of West College Hill, 6210 Betts Avenue, North College Hill (45224). The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation beginning at 11:00 am. To share a memory of Donald or leave a special message for the Lawson family, please click the Share Button below. Walker Funeral Home of Mt. Healthy is serving the Lawson family.

Previous Events