Obituary

Robert w. Lawson, iii, passed away peacefully on jan. 20, 2016, at his home in charleston, west virginia. Born july 23, 1940, in charleston, rob was the eldest son of virginia peyton broun and robert w. Lawson, jr. He attended fernbank elementary, thomas jefferson junior high, and charleston high school, before graduating from episcopal high school in 1958. After two years at washington & lee university, where he was a member of sigma alpha epsilon fraternity, rob transferred to west virginia university and graduated with a degree in economics. During those years, he spent two summers employed by the national park service as a trail crewman fighting forest fires in sequoia national park, california.

From 1964 to 1966, rob worked in the securities department of national savings & trust in washington, d.C., where he met and subsequently married his wife priscilla read. Rob graduated from the university of virginia school of law in 1969, then clerked for the honorable john a. Field, jr., judge of the u.S. District court for the southern district of west virginia.

Rob was a member of ditrapano, mitchell, lawson & field from 1970 to 1978, at which time he transitioned to a solo practice. He lost his bid as a nominee for municipal judge of charleston in 1971. Rob was a member of the kanawha county bar association, the west virginia state bar, the west virginia bar association, the virginia state bar, and the american bar association. He was also admitted to practice before the united states supreme court.

Rob was a member of the society of the cincinnati in the state of virginia. He belonged to the rotary club of charleston, of which he was a former board member. Rob was a member, and former president, of the cosmos club of charleston. He was also formerly on the boards of the charleston community music association and the kanawha home for children. Rob was a member of edgewood country club, wytheville golf club, farmington country club, and the metropolitan club of washington, d.C. He belonged to st. John’s episcopal church in charleston, and was formerly a member of its vestry. Additionally, rob was a non-resident member of st. John’s episcopal church in wytheville, virginia.

In addition to his parents, rob was preceded in death by his eldest son robert william lawson, iv.

Rob is survived by his wife, priscilla; his son, john; his daughter, polly and her husband scott, and their children mary and william; his brothers fontaine broun lawson (sally) and lewis peyton lawson (mary gill) both of richmond, virginia, and their children and grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, tuesday, jan. 26, at st. John’s episcopal church in charleston, and burial will follow at spring hill cemetery.

The family will receive friends & guests from 4:00 – 6:00 pm on monday, jan. 25, at barlow bonsall funeral home.