Thomas C. Lawing

Thomas C. Lawing

Tom was just a small town country boy from North Carolina. He was a quiet intelligent type who was always around to help you in a tough situation. He made friends with everyone and will be remembered by all. Success will follow him throughout his life.
- Howitzer '78
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Obituary for Thomas Calvin Lawing

Thomas Calvin Lawing, 64, of Waxhaw, NC passed away on February 17, 2021 at UNC Chapel Hill. Tom, as he was known by family and friends, was born on March 29, 1956 in Charlotte, NC to the late Priscilla Diane Ferguson and Robert Calvin Lawing. Tom was married to his best friend and love of his life, Jackie Melton Lawing for 42 years, having married on June 17, 1978.

He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) in 1978 and the U.S. Army War College in 1999. Tom was active duty in the Army from 1978 – 1984 and then went on to serve in the Army National Guard from 1984 – 2007 where he achieved the rank of Brigadier General. He served one tour of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom (October 26, 2004 – January 4, 2006). Tom was Commander of the 30th Engineer Brigade from September 2001 until September 2006 and then went on to become Assistant Adjutant General in December 2006.

Upon retirement from active duty in the Army in 1984, Tom became employed with Southern Bell (now AT&T) where he worked for over 36 years until his passing. In addition to having a professional engineers license, Tom was a highly decorated member of the Army and received the following major awards and decorations: Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 2 oak leaf clusters), National Defense Service Medal (with bronze service star), Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon and Parachute Badge.

During his free time, he liked to read, study genealogy, work on projects around the house, help others, continually try to learn new things and he loved relaxing on the patio with his wife and two dogs. He loved to travel, especially to St. John, and on family vacations to the beach. He was known by his four grandchildren as Papa and they each brought him great joy.

His friends and family remember Tom as an honorable man who loved God, his family, his two dogs (Casey and Bella) and loved serving his country. He was a caring, humble man, with a quiet strength and natural leadership qualities. He approached life with a sense of humor and was always trying to find ways to make people smile.

Tom had always said he wanted to be remembered by his loved ones as a person who loved them and was always there for them. He wanted to be remembered by others as an honest, trustworthy, caring person for “who he was”, not what position he was in. In other words he wanted to be remembered as Tom Lawing who was a general and worked for Bell South instead of General Tom Lawing or Director Tom Lawing.

In addition to his loving wife, Jackie Melton Lawing, Tom is survived by son Jason and his wife Ashley Lawing; daughter Kelly Gallo; and grandsons Hunter Gallo, Ryder Gallo, Jaxon Lawing and granddaughter Avery Lawing; sister Cathy Tench and step mother Nell Simpson Lawing. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Christopher Lawing.

A memorial service with military honors to celebrate Tom’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Forest Hill Church (Waxhaw) with burial to follow at Forest Lawn East Cemetery, 3700 Forest Lawn Drive, Matthews, NC 28104. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s memory to Forest Hill Church (Waxhaw), 8120 Kensington Drive, Waxhaw, NC 28173 OR The American Lung Association --- Please visit: www.americanlungassociationassn.org and click on ways to donate.