David Sexten Lawson Jr.

A lifelong area resident he was born August 17, 1933 in Jamestown NY, the son of the late David S. and Margaret Boak Lawson.

David was selected to Boys State in 1950 and served as representative for Bemus Point Central School. While in school he was a member of the Varsity Club, and National Honor Society. He served as the editor-in-chief for the high school year book and served as President of the Student Council. David was a 1951 graduate of Bemus Point Central School and was valedictorian of the class.

He received a BS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, Glen Cove, Long Island, New York. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1958 and went to Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. During his active-duty time in the navy David received training in damage control, atomic, biological and chemical warfare school on Treasure Island, CA. In 1956 he served on the USS White Marsh LSD-8 and was ranked as the Repair & Auxiliary Officer/ Damage Control Officer. He was also involved with amphibious operations in Hawaii, California, and Alaska. From 1956 to 1957 he was the Chief Engineering Officer on the USS Carter Hall LSD-3. In 1958 he served as Ship Superintendent at the US Naval Repair Facility in San Diego, CA. He served as a liaison between military and civilian work force regarding landing craft, patrol boats, admirals’ barges, captains’ gigs and aircraft carriers.

After completing his active duty in the navy David served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for 32 years in Jamestown, Cleveland, OH and Pittsburgh, PA. He was the commanding officer for two years at each assignment. While serving in the reserves he served on several augmentation units: Naval Ship Engineering Center, Naval Sea Systems Command, Philadelphia Naval Fleet, Surface Forces Atlantic Staff. He retired from the naval reserves in 1987 with the rank of Captain.

David took over the family business, L. S. Aero Marine, Inc. in Bemus Point, NY and on the Chadakoin River at Clifton. He served as President from 1968 to 2018. In 2010, the Bemus Point property was donated by David and became the Lawson Boating Heritage Center, where David remained active on the Board of Trustees.

David was also a member of the Webb Institute Alumni Association. He was a life member of the Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier Antique Classic Boat Society and Tree of Life Lutheran Church.

David is survived by numerous close friends and patrons in the Chautauqua Lake Boating Region.

He was preceded in death by his parents David and Margret Lawson and a sister Jean C. Lawson on May 19, 2001.

David was very appreciative of the care he received from the staff at Absolut-Care in Westfield. He would like to thank his caregivers Heather, Rose, Mike and Hunter for the care he received at Westfield Memorial Hospital.

A private graveside memorial service will be held in Fluvanna Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at the Lawson Center in the spring of 2023. The time and date for the Celebration of Life will announced at a later date.

Memorials may be donated to the Lawson Center, P.O. Box 10, Bemus Point, NY 14712. Visit our website at www. falconerfuneralhome.net to send a message of condolence.