Marilyn A. Lawson 1935-2025

She was born Aug. 17, 1935, in her family’s home on Forest Hill Drive in Austintown, a daughter of Clair E. and Anna E. Anderson Lowry.

Marilyn was a graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, Class of 1953, where she was a class officer, a member of the National Honor Society, active in school choruses and was crowned May Queen for her senior prom. After graduation, she attended Youngstown University for secretarial studies.

She joined U.S. Steel Corporation in 1955 and worked in the Ohio Works and McDonald Works offices until 1963.

Marilyn married Harry W. Lawson Jr. on June 17, 1961. Together they resided in Boardman, enjoyed an active social life and summers boating on the Three Rivers around Pittsburgh, Pa., and then at Lake Milton Boat Club in Mahoning County after they started their family of three children.

After Harry’s sudden death in January 1973, Marilyn returned to work on a part-time, and then later full-time basis. She retired from Youngstown State University as secretary of the Foreign Languages and Literature Department in August 2004, after 18 years of service.

In her younger years, Marilyn enjoyed card clubs with her friends and was a league bowler at Camelot Lanes in Boardman. She was a lifelong avid reader, and in her later years, enjoyed socializing with friends and neighbors, thrifting and putting together puzzles.

Most of all, Marilyn enjoyed all of her time spent with her children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, sister and brother-in-law, nieces and nephews, and their families. Her loving home was often the gathering place for extended family and friends during holidays.

Marilyn was baptized at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oil City, Pa. As an adult, she was confirmed at St. James Episcopal Church of Boardman and later joined St. John Episcopal Church of Youngstown.

Marilyn’s memory lives on with her son and daughter-in law, H. William “Bill” and Joan M. Lawson of Youngstown; daughter and son-in-law, Joan E. and Robert M. Hall of Akron; granddaughter, Meghan E. (Seth) Walker of Columbiana; grandsons, Brian W. Lawson (Mary Dippolito) of Austintown, Quinn M. Hall (Riley Eckert) of Medina, Aidan K. Hall and Anders W. Hall of Akron; and her great granddaughter, Aurelia Eve Walker.

Along with her parents and husband, Marilyn was preceded in death by her son, Kurt E. Lawson; sister and brother-in-law, Mildred E. and Robert Miller; and brother and sister-in-law, Robert H. Lowry and Barbara Mariotte.

There will be a funeral service for Marilyn 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at St. John Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown.

Family and friends may call 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2025, at Fox Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman, and 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Marilyn’s honor to the memorial fund at St. John Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown. OH 44503; or Angels for Animals, 4750 W. South Range Road, Canfield, OH 44406.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman.

Family and friends may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and to give condolences to the Kovach family.

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