Laurenson, Robert Mark 'Butch' (25 Oct 1938 - 9 Jun 2011) [7211:B]

Laurenson, Robert Mark 'Butch' (25 Oct 1938 - 9 Jun 2011) [7211:B].
Husband of Scroggins, Ann (Laurenson) (4 Sep 1939 - 2 Jan 2016) [7208:B].
 Robert E. Evans Funeral Home
16000 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD 20715
Published in The Annapolis Capital on June 15, 2011
Published in the Joplin News-Leader on June 15, 2011
Published in St. Louis Post-Dispatch on June 15, 2011
Find A Grave, Robert Mark 'Butch' Laurenson, 24 Sep 2013 [6 Jan 2016]

Robert M. (Butch) Laurenson, III, 72, died Thursday, June 9, at his home in Crofton, Maryland holding hands with his wife, Ann [7208], of 49 years. He was born October 25, 1938 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Mildred and Robert M. Laurenson, II, but spent his teenage years in Springfield, Missouri.

After graduating from Central High School, he attended Drury College (1956-1958) in Springfield, Missouri, and received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Missouri School of Mines (Rolla) in 1961 where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and honorary fraternities: Sigma Xi, Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, and Phi Kappa Phi. He went on to receive his M.S. in mechanical engineering from the Univ. of Michigan in 1962, followed by his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1968. In addition, he was a registered professional engineer.

He is survived, and will be dearly missed, by Ann Scroggins [7208] whom he married in 1961. They had two daughters: Susan E. Matchael [7212] of Fairbanks, Alaska and Shari L. [7213] (and Ewell []) Lawson of Columbia, Missouri. He is also survived by one grandson, Joe Lawson and one granddaughter, Katie Lawson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mildred Laurenson and sister, Mary Hook.

Butch began his career as a dynamics engineer with McDonnell Douglas Corporation in St. Louis in 1962. He was transferred to Seabrook, Maryland in 1992 as a contractor to NASA, Goddard where he served as the Division General Manager from 1998-1999. He then retired from what is now Boeing (which had merged with McDonnell Douglas).

Some of the highlights of his career included: Working on the Gemini Spacecraft, Space Shuttle fuel tanks, and the Hubble Space Telescope. He served as an adjunct professor at St. Louis Univ., Univ. Missouri – Rolla in St. Louis, and Johns Hopkins Univ. He began serving as a mechanical engineering accreditation evaluator in 1979, was named to the executive committee in 2000, and chair in 2005-2006. He was named an ABET Fellow in 2008. He has been listed in "Who's Who in Science and Engineering" since 1984. Butch had served in several positions within the Episcopal Church, including standing committee for the Diocese of Missouri. He was currently a member of St. Paul's Anglican Church.

Butch enjoyed any opportunity to dance with his wife, Ann. Butch and Ann were members of Belair Square Cats and Crabtown Squares dance clubs. He and Ann served on the Board of Directors of the Mason-Dixon Square Dance Federation, and he was editor of the monthly newsletter "Cues 'n Tips". Together, they attended church. Their travels across the United States and Canada included many visits to Alaska and Missouri. In Missouri, he particularly enjoyed building structures with grandson Joe. Butch and granddaughter Katie shared an affinity for ice cream. In his spare time, he enjoyed sailing, reading, stamp- and coin- collecting, photography and his weekly book club at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

The family will receive friends Wednesday June 15 from 5-8 pm at Robert E Evans Funeral Home, 16000 Annapolis Rd, Bowie, Maryland. A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 16 at 10 am at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 1505 Crownsville Rd, Crownsville, Maryland. Interment will be in Springfield, Missouri. Memorial Contributions may be made to: St. Paul's Anglican Church, PO Box 380, Crownsville, Maryland 21032 or Salvation Army, PO Box 21787, St. Louis, Missouri 63109, Designate - Joplin Tornado.

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Robert Mark 'Butch' Laurenson

Birth:     Oct. 25, 1938
  Pittsburgh
  Allegheny County
  Pennsylvania, USA
Death:     Jun. 9, 2011
  Maryland, USA

Family links:
   Spouse:
     Ann Scroggins Laurenson (1939 - 2016)

Burial:
Hazelwood Cemetery
Springfield
Greene County
Missouri, USA

Created by: Judy Young
Record added: Sep 24, 2013
Find A Grave Memorial# 117580135