F. William Lawton

Bill Lawton passed away in Lake Placid, NY on Monday December 1 at the age of 86. Mr. Lawton was the husband of the late Edwina (Barnes) Lawton. He is survived by his son, Robert M. Lawton of Manassas, VA, his daughter, Janet M. Mellor of Lake Placid, NY and his granddaughter, Elise Lawton Mellor of Lake Placid, NY. Bill started working at the South Weymouth Savings Bank as a teller in 1951 and retired as the President and Chief Executive Officer in 1984. Mr. Lawton was born in Wareham and was a longtime resident first of South Weymouth, then of Hanover prior to moving to Lake Placid, NY 9 months ago to be with his daughter and family. Bill entered Brown University in Providence, RI in 1940, leaving College in 1942 for service in the Navy as a Fighter Pilot on the Bismarck Sea in 1944 until the ship was sunk by Kamikaze off of Iwo Jima in 1944. Mr. Lawton became the holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross and 4 Air Medals. He went back to Brown University to finish his education and graduated in 1947. Among many affiliations, Bill was the past Trustee of South Shore Hospital, a member of the George R. Bean American Legion Post #401, a member of the Wessagusset Lodge of Masons in Weymouth, the Scottish Rite in Boston and the Aleppo Temple, Boston. He was a past active member of the Old South Union Church of S. Weymouth and the First Congregational Church of Hanover where he was a delegate to the Finance Committee, an usher and deacon. Mr. Lawton's favorite hobby was flying and driving his Mustang convertible. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Hanover, 515 Hanover St. Hanover on Sunday, December 7 at 2:30 P.M. Internment will be private in the Hanover Center Cemetery. Arrangements made with the C. C. Shepherd Funeral Home 134 Pleasant St. (Columbian Sq.) S. Weymouth. Donations may be made in Bill's memory to the South Shore Hospital Foundation, 55 Fogg Rd. S. Weymouth, MA 02190 or the High Peaks Hospice, P.O. Box 840, Saranac Lake, NY 12983. If you would like to leave a message for the Lawtons please visit www.ccshepherd.com.