Addison Lawton

Addison Chalmers Lawton was born on February 18, 1914, the son of Clarence and Mae Elizabeth Closson Lawton in Kokomo, Indiana and died January 17, 2013 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. After growing up in Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania, he graduated during The Great Depression from Thornton Township High school in Harvey, Illinois in 1932. For the next five years, Addison worked various jobs while taking classes at Thornton Township Junior College and the Art Institute of Chicago. In the fall of 1937, he enrolled at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa from which he graduated with a BA in June 1940. In the fall of 1940, he enrolled in McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated with a BD degree in May, 1943. While a student at Parsons College, he met the love of his life, Mary Ruth Walker. He was warmly welcomed into the extended Walker family and their courtship included birding, the college choir and almost daily correspondence during his years of seminary. They were married on December 27, 1942 in Fairfield, Iowa. After graduating from seminary, Reverend Lawton served as pastor of Windsor Presbyterian Church in Windsor Heights, Iowa, First Presbyterian Church of Centerville, Iowa, First Presbyterian Church of Emporia, Kansas and Calvary Presbyterian Church of Independence, Missouri. During his years at Windsor Heights he spearheaded the planning, fundraising and building of a new stone-faced sanctuary. After leaving Calvary Presbyterian Church, Addison enrolled at UMKC where he completed a Master’s degree in Secondary Education-Reading. He later taught English in the Kansas City School District before retiring in 1981. During his lifetime Addison was involved in a number of community activities in which he provided leadership including; moderator of the Presbytery of Des Moines, chairman of the Committee for Christian Education in Des Moines, co-chairman of the Citizen’s Planning Committee to build a new junior high in Centerville, Iowa, chair of the Citizens Affairs Committee of the Ministerial Association in Emporia, Kansas, serving in various capacities in Presbyterian presbyteries, Lions Club, Red Cross and Girl Scouts of America. During his years in Emporia he penned a weekly devotional article, “From My Study Window” for The Ambassador. He was a man of ideas and a fiercely independent thinker. He built his world around his family and possessed a wonderful sense of humor. He was a member of Heartland Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church and Sons of the American Revolution. Addison was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and his beloved wife of 54 years. He is survived by six daughters and son-in-laws: Linda and Bill Perry, Charleston, Illinois, Christine and Greg Raymond, Boise, Idaho, Rosemary and Dave Wehnes, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Martha and Bill Reynolds, Blue Springs, Missouri, Jennifer and Robert Marks, Lithia, Florida and Constance Lawton and Jim Yoder, Los Angeles, California. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren: Deborah Perry, Greg Perry, Michelle Johnson, Christopher Wehnes, Laura Wehnes, Sarah Reynolds-Thomas, Nathan Reynolds, Rachel Marks, Rebecca Marks, Daniel Marks, Alexandra Lawton-Yoder, James Addison Lawton-Yoder and Max Lawton-Yoder. His great-grandchildren are: Grayson Field, Alana Thomas, Hayden Maines, Madeline Johnson, Olivia Johnson and James Johnson. Also surviving him is one brother, Richard Lawton of Melbourne, Florida. Visitation will take place on Friday, January 25 at 1:00 pm at Second Presbyterian Church, 318 E 55th Street, Kansas City, Missouri followed at 2:00 pm by the funeral service in the chapel of Second Presbyterian Church. Graveside services will follow the funeral at Mound Grove Cemetery in Independence, Missouri. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or Friends of Hart Park Foundation, Inc., 7300 West Chestnut Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53213-2739. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.speakschapel.com Arrangements by Speaks Suburban Chapel, 816-373-3600.