James Lawson Laprelle's Obituary
James Lawson LaPrelle, Jr. (Louie) passed away peacefully on March 16. A native of Dallas, he was born November 10, 1918 to parents Florence and J.L. LaPrelle. He attended Armstrong Elementary and Highland Park High School, graduating in 1936. He graduated from SMU in 1940, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He attended Midshipman School at Northwestern University, graduating as an Ensign. He spent 4 years in the Navy aboard the USS Chicopee, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters in WWII. Retiring from the Navy as Lt. Commander, he returned to Dallas in 1945. He married Virginia McLendon in 1947. After working briefly for Southland Life Insurance, he began his banking career with the First National Bank of Dallas. He graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University and the IBM School of Data Processing. He retired from First National as Sr. Vice President and Trust Officer after 32 years. Lawson was a long-time member of Highland Park United Methodist Church and the 2×2 Sunday School class. He belonged to the Romeo Lunch Group of the Golden Mustangs and won the award for being the oldest HP Scot alum at 2 of his last reunions. Lawson was a quiet man with a great sense of humor. He was a man of great integrity and honesty. He was a devoted family man and husband and his greatest joy was spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia; son Jim and wife Jan and their children and grandchildren, Alicia, Bart, Jude, Amanda, and Jimmy; his daughter Joan Eleazer and husband Jeff and their children and grancdhildren, Layne, Gavin, William, Katie Grace, Katie, Joey, Ellie, Mollie, and Trey; his son Bob and grandson Mason, and his sister, Jane LaPrelle Bausewine. A memorial service will be held at 4pm on Monday, March 21 at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Family requests that memorials be made to the Benevolence Fund of the 2×2 Class at HPUMC,or the charity of your choice.
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