Robert Francis Lawrence

Robert F. Lawrence (Bob), age 92 (but don't let him know we told you), died on October 22, 2024, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bob was born on December 4, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York to parents, Robert and Frances Lawrence. He graduated from Bayside High School, class of 1950, then furthered his education by obtaining a Finance degree from St. John's University and a Master of Business Administration from New York University. He served in the Army from October 1954 to October 1956 where he was a rifleman and spent time stationed in Germany. On May 11, 1957, he married Arlene J. Sternkopf, his long-time girlfriend, at Holy Family R. C. Church in Flushing, NY. They made their home in New Hyde Park, NY and then later, Tulsa, Oklahoma where they raised their six children, were active in their community, and spent time building treasured family memories and traditions. Bob began his career in the accounting/financial planning field with NBC. He later worked for Getty Oil as a financial planner and moved his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma when Skelly Oil merged into Getty Oil and was retained when Texaco acquired Getty in 1984. Bob retired as a Sr. Financial Planner for Texaco in 1991 and enjoyed over 30 years of retirement playing golf, traveling with his wife, and enjoying family gatherings, vacations and sporting events for an ever-growing crew of grandchildren, and more recently great grandchildren. Bob was a quiet, dedicated leader of his family and, alongside Arlene, raised their children in their catholic faith. He set the bar for providing for his family and caring for his wife when she became ill. Bob will be remembered as an avid golfer, a prankster, gym-goer, racquetball player, a man led by his faith and a genuinely nice guy with great hair, and a quick, dry, enjoyable sense of humor who had a love/hate relationship with his yardwork and inground pool. He is survived by his six children; son, Robert Lawrence; daughters, Joanne Hoffman and husband Jeff; Christine McClure and husband Tim; Karen Burnett; Dana Dudley and husband Paul; Andrea Gibson; 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Arlene; his parents; his sister, Delores Thomas; and youngest granddaughter, Katherine Marie Gibson. Bob was a beloved father, grandfather, and friend and will be dearly missed. A rosary will be held at 11:30 a.m., with the Funeral Mass to follow on Saturday, November 16, at 12:00 p.m., at St. Bernard's of Clairvaux Catholic Church, 4001 E 101st St., Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Robert Francis Lawrence

December 4, 1931 - October 22, 2024