Wilma A. Lawson

Wilma Aletha Rabel Lawson, age 104, a lifelong resident of Fairfield, passed away February 6, 2012 at the Sunnybrook Living Care Center in Fairfield.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 10, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Fairfield with Pastor Medea Saunders officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will start at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday at Behner Funeral Home and family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sunnybrook Living Care Center and the First United Methodist Church in Fairfield. Cards and memorials can be sent to 3601 S.W. Zona Circle, Ankeny, Iowa 50023-9683.

Wilma was born in Pleasant Grove, Iowa to Harry and Penelope Hielman Rabel on June 17, 1907. In 1908, the Rabel family moved to a farm in Jefferson County, where Wilma grew up with her four sisters. She graduated from Fairfield High School in 1925 and subsequently, taught school for four years in a rural country school. While teaching, she met and married Vernon Lawson on April 20, 1929. They made their lifelong home in Fairfield and raised four sons: Richard, Eugene, Warren and Roger.

Wilma dedicated her life to her family, her Lodge, Church and the community. The early years of her married life was devoted to her family. In 1945, Vern and Wilma purchased the Fairfield Motel and Restaurant on the western edge of the city. From 1945-1956, she and Vernon operated the Motel/Restaurant. In 1956, they converted the properties into their home and long term rental apartments. Wilma managed these rental properties for the next 50 years. In 2004, she fell and broke her hip, and has subsequently, lived at the Living Care Center.

Wilma was active in the First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She was also active in Rebecca Lodge #96 of Jefferson Lodge #4, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding many offices, to include Noble Grand.

Survivors include four sons: General (ret.) Richard and his wife Joan of Clifton, Virginia, Eugene of Bettendorf, Iowa, Major General (ret.) Warren and his wife Bobbie of Ankeny, Iowa and Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Roger and his wife Susan of Tucson, Arizona; 11 grandchildren: Leslie (Lawson) Henrichsen and husband Peter, Wendy (Lawson) Wampler, Richard Lawson, Randy Lawson and wife Stephanie, Monte Lawson and wife Ellen, Matt Lawson and wife Mary, Mike Lawson and wife Meredith, Lance Lawson, Laura (Lawson) Wells, Carrie (Lawson) DeMont and husband Rick and Catherine Lawson and 12 great-grandchildren: Caitlin Lawson, Zachery Lawson, Kevin Lawson and wife Jennifer, Christopher Lawson, Steven Lawson, Steffi (Lawson) Stanton and husband Nick, Holly Lawson, Melinda Lawson, Nichole (Wells) Meston and husband Nate, Erin Wells, Rabe Lawson and Tierra DeMont.

Wilma was preceded in death by her husband: Vernon, who passed away on Thanksgiving Day in 1986, her daughter-in-law: Jeanie (Rambo) Lawson, 1 granddaughter: Melinda, 2 grandsons-in-law: Randy Wells and Allen Wampler, her parents and 4 sisters: Grace Roberts, Lucille Hudgel, Pauline Turpin and Gertrude Dice.