Gerald Patrick “Pat” Lawrence Sr., 73, passed away at his home in Mobile, Ala., on Thursday, March 19, 2015, after complications from long-term illness.

Born March 27, 1941, in Bogalusa, he graduated with honors from Bogalusa High School in 1959. After earning a degree in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University in 1966, he moved his family to Bastrop, La., where he began a long and notable career with International Paper Company. After 30 years of faithful service, he retired from International Paper’s Design Engineering Division in Mobile in 1996.

As a 12-year-old boy, he was baptized at First Baptist Church in Bogalusa. In his 30s, he recommitted his life to God and became a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. He made it a priority to find a church home even before finding a residence each time his job transferred him, and he taught Sunday School classes and Bible studies and shared with others the life he had found in Christ. He was an active member of First Baptist Church, Bastrop; Northside Baptist Church, Panama City, Fla.; Southside Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, Ark.; and West Mobile Baptist Church, Mobile.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Graham Lawrence of Mobile; and his four sons, Gerald Patrick Lawrence Jr. (Tommi) of Houston, James Michael Lawrence Sr. (Wilma) of Monroe, La., David Wade Lawrence (Allison) of Mobile and Kenneth Paul Lawrence (Samantha) of Atlanta. He is also survived by one brother, Robert D. “Bob” Lawrence Jr. of Slidell; and one sister, Rebecca Lawrence Clark of Terrytown, La. Other survivors include his 10 grandchildren, Daniel Lawrence, Andrew Lawrence, Qaya Gasmi, Michael Lawrence Jr., Christie Lawrence, Jacob Lawrence, Jonathan Lawrence, Jeremiah Lawrence, Alex Lawrence and Gracie Lawrence.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert D. Lawrence Sr. and Nellie Lee Lawrence of Bogalusa.

Services will be held at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home in Bogalusa on Monday, March 23, 2015. Burial will be at Ponemah Cemetary in Bogalusa. Times for visitation and the service have not yet been finalized. Please see pooleritchiefuneralhome.com for more information.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.