This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DAw.2ACIB/2318 Message Board Post: Floyd Beattie Lawrence Jr., 68, of Thousand Oaks, went to be with the lord Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, after a lengthy illness. Floyd was born March 28, 1937, in Saltville, Va. He weighed more than 11 pounds and was born at home. He was the son of the late Floyd Beattie Lawrence and Ruth Roberts Lawrence. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson Chad Lawrence. Floyd was of the Christian faith. Floyd was a real American success story. He pulled himself up by his boot straps out of a hill coal mining town in Virginia to become a football hero, town hero, Navy pilot, and airline pilot; but he never forgot where he came from. Floyd left home when he was 14 years old to make his way in the world. He began attending Greenbrier Military School. His road to success began when he graduated in 1955, from Greenbrier Military School, Lewisburg, W.Va., where he demonstrated leadership and considerable ability on the football field and obtained the quality foundation that would serve him well for the of rest of his life. Floyd always said the happiest years of his life were spent at Greenbrier Military School. Floyd's infectious grin, good humor and beautiful blue eyes made him well-liked by everyone. Floyd sang in the Greenbrier Military School Glee Club and he certainly had a good voice. Floyd's football ability enabled him to attend Clemson and Florida State, where he played football as a running back and full back. Floyd, "Dink" as he was known then, played and lettered in the 1956 Orange Bowl for Clemson. From 1957 to 1958 he played fullback for Florida State Seminoles. He was a bruising runner at 202 pounds and filled the spot vacated by MVP Bob Nellums. He roomed with Burt Reynolds for a short time at Florida State, although Floyd played better football. After college, Floyd entered the Navy where he completed pilot training, flying special missions in Vietnam. Later, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, returning state side in 1966. After leaving the Navy in November of 1966, Floyd joined Continental Airlines where he flew Continental Micronesia for many years. Flying airplanes was the absolute love of his life and he was an excellent pilot known for his soft landings. Floyd was also a great chef and loved to cook many international varieties of food from scratch. When you tasted his Brazilian samba stew, you thought you were in heaven. He was an adventurer and loved to explore. He never met a stranger. Floyd was a very unique person who lived his life without worrying about about what someone else was thinking. Underneath his guts and grit exterior was a tender heart of gold that was very kind, gentle and generous to anyone in need. There was never a dull moment with Floyd around. He could have filled a book with his stories. Survivors include a special friend, Ann Telling of Thousand Oaks; daughter, Marcia Beverly of New Mexico; sons, Brian K. and Anthony Scott Lawrence and his wife, Sandra, all of Arizona; brother, Douglas B. Lawrence and his wife, Ramona, of Gladys, Va. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Whitney Lawrence and Tyler McKee; and stepgrandchildren, Nichole and Garret Porter. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, at Pierce Bros. Griffin Mortuary, 101 E. Wilbur Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360. A reception will immediately follow at the Thousand Oaks Elk's Club, where we will celebrate the life and many accomplishments of Floyd Beattie Lawrence Jr. Those we hold closest to our hearts never truly leave us. They live on in the kindnesses they shared and the love they brought into our lives. He will be missed! Published in the Ventura County Star from 1/1/2006 - 1/4/2006.