Charles Robert "Chuck" Lawson

Charles R. Lawson who passed away on July 21, 2022 at the age of 87, was a retired Army veteran who rose to the rank of SFC and was a veteran of the Vietnam war. After 27 years of Military service in the US Army, he retired on March 31, 1980, from Fort Lewis, Wash. Charles went to work for the US Customs Service in Seattle, Wash., where he also retired in January of 1997, for a total of 42 years of exceptional military and civilian service to the federal government, the Customs Service and the defense of our nation.

During his military service Charles was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Overseas Service Bars, Motor Vehicle Driver’s Badge, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and Army Commendation Medal.

Charles was born in Milltown, Wis., to Ernest and Elizabeth Lawson (Hutton) on Dec. 6, 1934, the second of seven children. Charles attended Mt. Home High School where he graduated in 1949 and began his military career shortly thereafter.

Charles met his wife of 63 years, Lieselotte Lawson (Berger) while stationed in Munich, Germany in 1958, they were married a year later in March of 1959. They had three children, Bobby, Charles E., and Lorraine, who they raised as a military family stationed in Munich, Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Lewis, Wash., Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Ord, Calif., Landstuhl, Germany, Hanau, Germany, and Wiesbaden, Germany.

After retiring to the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, Wash., Charles became in involved in “Projekt Bayern” and became a board member, marching in parades with his wife and the shooting of the “Böller Gun”. Later desiring to be closer to family Charles and Lotte moved to Longview, Wash.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, John and Darrel; two sisters, Barbara (Scott), and Charlotte (Conklin); and a son, Charles E. Lawson.

Charles is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lieselotte Lawson of Longview; a son, Bobby Lawson, (Marilyn) of Bonny Lake, Wash.; a daughter, Lorraine Wyles (Paul) of Anchorage, Alaska; three grandsons, Matthew and Christopher Wyles of Anchorage, and Shaun Lawson in Washington; a granddaughter, Christy in Washington; a sister, Lillian Nuzum (Jim) of Garden City, Kan.; a brother, Leonard Lawson (Anthea) of Longview; and 16 nephews and nieces.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, at Longview Memorial Park. A reception will follow in the Steele Chapel Hospitality Room.