Donald Lawrence's Obituary
Donald Lawrence, 99, of Fort Myers, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2015. He was born August 29, 1916 in West Springfield, MA. He was employed for 35 years at the Portland Stove Foundry and retired as President in 1970. In 1881, his grandfather, Franklin Muzzy Lawrence, moved from Bangor, ME to Portland and started the Portland Stove Foundry on Fore Street. It operated continuously on Kennebec St. for 99 years with 120 employees. Mr. Lawrence revived the popularity of the Franklin Stove invented by Ben Franklin. Before Back Cove was filled in to make Marginal Way and Route 295, employees used to swim directly from the plant into Back Cove. A spectacular fire demolished the foundry five years after Mr. Lawrence sold to the Fitchburg Foundry. Mr. Lawrence graduated from the Governor’s Academy, Williams College and Babson Institute. He was a member of the Portland Country Club, director for 12 years of the Portland YMCA and a director for 12 years on the advisory board of the American Mutual Life Insurance Co. and longstanding member of the Portland Rotary Club. Some of his many hobbies included boating, fishing, golf, bridge and especially gardening and the growing of orchids. Mr. Lawrence is survived by his wife of 75 years, Ellen Libby and two sons: Franklin and William. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Governor’s Academy, South Byfield, MA 01922.Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907, 239-936-0555. Online condolences may be made at: www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Donald?
What’s a lesson you learned from Donald?
Share a story where Donald's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Donald you’ll never forget.
How did Donald make you smile?