Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Lawler, Lee F. March 7, 1974
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Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 June 29, 2023, 4:10 pm

Virginian-Pilot  March 8, 1974
NORFOLK – Lee F. Lawler, 88, of 1230 E. Ocean View Ave., who served as city 
sergeant from 1938 to 1955, died Thursday in General Hospital of Virginia Beach.
A lifelong resident of Norfolk, he was a son of John F. and Mrs. Nora Donovan 
Lawler.
Lawler, who started as a deputy in the Norfolk Commissioner of Revenue’s office, 
was elected again in 1941, 1945, 1949 and 1953. In the 1953 Democratic primary, 
he was opposed by T. E. Leesnitzer, who resigned to run against him. Lawler was 
nominated on a 5,264 to 3,006 count. In the following general election in 
November, he had no opposition and polled 12,030 votes.
As City Sergeant, he supervised the bailiffs for the courts of record and 
serving of processes. But his main headache was the dilapidated old City Jail on 
East Plume Street.
The State inspectors had constantly criticized the outmoded structure and 
threatened to close the jail to State prisoners. The threat was withheld, 
however, when the City Council moved to build a new Civic Center with plans for 
a modern new jail.
On the occasion of his 80th birthday in April 1965, Lawler was guest of honor at 
a surprise luncheon at the Monticello Hotel attended by 100 well-wishers. The 
group included relatives, court officials, many lawyers and clergymen. Attorney 
Lewis B. Fine was toastmaster and lawyer B. A. Banks the chief recaller of their 
former days of politicking.
His service to the city totaled 27 years, 11 months and a day.
After retirement, Lawler maintained an active interest in politics. He was a 
lifelong Democrat.
He has also been active in Catholic affairs many years. He was a member of Holy 
Trinity Catholic Church and a grand knight and past state deputy of the Knights 
of Columbus.
Survivors include five nieces, Mrs. Clay Gatewood of Virginia Beach, Mrs. Mabel 
Yerby and Miss Annette Lawler of Norfolk, Mrs. Jean Farley of Oxen Hill, Md., 
and Mrs. Mary Sue Way of Severen, Md.; and eight nephews, Emmet J. Lawler and J. 
Winston Lawler of Norfolk, John R. Lawler Jr. of Portsmouth, Webster R. Lawler 
and Lee Lawler of Virginia Beach, Vincent Lawler Jr. of Baltimore, Barry Lawler 
of Harrisburg, Pa., and Air Force Capt. William Lawler.
A Wake Service will be said tonight at 8 in H. D. Oliver Funeral Apartments.
A Requiem Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. in Holy Trinity Catholic 
Church. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.


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