William Laurie, 90

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William Martin Laurie, 90, of Lebanon, died on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Jan. 21, at Meyer Funeral Home in Lebanon. Burial was in the College Hill Cemetery in Lebanon.

Mr. Laurie was born in Wichita, KS, on March 11, 1921, the eldest of 11 children of the late Robert Alexander and Lena Lucille (Barnett) Laurie. He married Ruth E. Wright on Feb. 20, 1943, and she survives.

He spent his early years in Kansas and Illinois. An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he continued his service as a member of the Kansas Air National Guard and then the Air Force Reserves.

Mr. Laurie also worked as an aircraft mechanic at Scott Air Force Base until his retirement from the Civil Service. In his leisure time, he enjoyed repairing and building private aircraft, woodworking and spending time with his family.

After retirement, he and his wife traveled as missionaries. During two years in the Philippines, they helped southeast Asian refugees learn English and other skills that would help them transition more easily into the U.S. They then served two years in the American Samoa.

A member and deacon of the Southern Baptist Church, Mr. Laurie and his wife also spent many years working in the U.S. on other mission projects for their church.

In addition to his wife of 68 years, he is survived by sons, Michael (wife Betty) Laurie and Lynn (wife Constance) Laurie; sisters, June Fletcher and Charlotte Lowe, both of Litchfield; a daughter-in-law, Rebecca; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Harold Robert Laurie; five brothers; three sisters; and a grandson, Michael David Laurie, Jr.

The family suggests memorials be directed to the West Gate Baptist Church of Trenton or the American Cancer Society.