Dave Lawlor Obituary

David "Dave" Thomas Lawlor, 86, beloved husband of Michelle D. Lambert Lawlor of Simpsonville, SC, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Born in Manhattan, NY, he was one of three sons born to loving parents, the late David and Margaret Callan Lawlor. Raised in Elmhurst, NY, Dave graduated from Newtown High School in 1957. He started his career at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City where he traveled throughout the country to visit policy holders. While at Metropolitan Life, Dave became an active member of the Army National Guard with the Fighting 69 Regiment Armory. Serving from 1960 until 1964, he rose to the rank of Sergeant and was stationed at both Fort Knox, KY and Fort Jackson, SC. His insurance career then took him to Lincoln National Life. Dave eventually became an independent insurance broker specializing in Employee Benefits for Ohio school districts and hospitals. At his retirement, Dave's insurance career spanned over 40 years. Beginning in 1998, Dave and Michelle attended spiritual Christian weekends called Cum Christo meaning "With Christ!" In 1999, those profound experiences led him to become a team member of KAIROS Prison Ministry where he served for 20 years living out Matthew 25:36 "I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison, and you came to Me." In 2000, Dave married Michelle in Columbus, OH where they spent most of their married life. Besides enjoying his large, blended family, Dave also loved traveling. Their adventures included cruises to the Southern Caribbean and Dominican Republic, as well as beach trips to Sunset Beach, NC and Panama City Beach, FL, where he and Michelle were joined annually by their dear and cherished friends. Dave also loved working in his yard, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing the "hand & foot" card game, telling jokes, and talking with people....Dave knew no stranger! In 2022, Dave and Michelle moved to Simpsonville, SC for a warmer climate and to be nearer to some family members. In addition to new adventures, Dave made more dear friends through his church community. In addition to his beloved wife of nearly 25 years, he is survived by their blended family, Todd and Anne Scharer Lawlor from Dobbs Ferry, NY, Kim and David Jacobs from McKinney, TX, Vaughn and Kathryn Hastings from North Myrtle Beach, SC, Jeffrey and Larissa Blais from Simpsonville, SC, and Sheryl and Josh Anderson from Lewis Center, OH; along with their many grandchildren, Sarah Roman (Adrian), Rachel Jacobs, Madeline and Evan Lawlor, Emmitt, Hazel, Olive, Thatcher, and Flora Blais, and Brayden and Brooklyn Anderson. He was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Isabel and Connor Roman with another grandbaby on the way. He also leaves behind his beloved younger brother, Donald F. Lawlor; nephews and niece, Jonathan Lawlor, Matthew Lawlor, Scott Lawlor, Stacy Lampman; and many great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his older brother, Richard P. Lawlor and one grandchild, Riley Nicole. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, SC, Hillcrest Memorial Hospital in Simpsonville, SC and Centerville Home Health Care in Simpsonville, SC for their exceptional care and compassion. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at the Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Southeast in Simpsonville, SC on Friday, August 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. For our loved ones in OH, there will also be a Celebration of Dave's life in Columbus at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made in Dave's memory to the Kairos Prison Ministry of Ohio, P.O. Box 14490, Columbus, OH 43214 . Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of David with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".