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Permanent LinkRepresentative Edna C. Lawrence View All Years
Mr. Speaker: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Edna C. Lawrence, begs leave to submit the following memorial:
Edna C. Lawrence was born in Wapello County on April 28, 1906 to Jack and Elsie Neal Caldwell. She attended Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls and Northeast Missouri State Teachers College at Kirksville. She received a bachelor’s degree from Parsons College.
Mrs. Lawrence married Matt L. Lawrence on February 3, 1934 at Washington, Iowa, and to this union were born a son and a daughter.
Mrs. Lawrence was past president of the Wapello County Republican Women’s Club. She owned and operated a real estate business, taught at Eldon, Eddyville, Selma and Agency, was acting principal of Cardinal Junior High School and was president of Cardinal Community School Classroom Teachers Organization.
Mrs. Lawrence, a Republican, was a member of the Fifty-second, Fifty-second Extra and Fifty-third General Assemblies, representing Wapello County.
After her legislative terms, Mrs. Lawrence was elected Commissioner of Finance for the Ottumwa City Council.
In 1971, she was the first woman elected to head Iowa Pioneer Lawmakers Association. She was appointed to the state’s Comprehensive Health Planning Advisory Council in 1973. She was a member of the Methodist Church, Wapello County Cancer Crusade Chairman in 1975, a member of the New Century Club, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Wapello County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Iowa State Education Association, National Education Association and Professional Women’s Club.
Mrs. Lawrence passed away on March 1, 1978, and is survived by her husband, Matt; her daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Benson of Ames, Iowa and her son, Matt L. Lawrence III of Bismarck, North Dakota; a brother, Lester N. Caldwell of Fort Madison, Iowa, and four grandchildren.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Edna C. Lawrence, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this resolution would express its appreciation of her service, and tender its sympathy to the members of the family.
Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
CHARLES N. PONCY
FLOYD H. MILLEN
DONALD GETTINGS
Committee