Surrounded by the love of family, James Wendell Lawrence, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on October 7, 2025, at the Landings in Westerville, Ohio. Jim was born on February 5, 1940, in Coshocton, Ohio, to Richard W. and Mary Margaret (Daughtery) Lawrence, living most of his life in his beloved community of Warsaw, Ohio. In 1963, he married his wife and “special angel”, Joan Lynnette Shrimplin Lawrence. He was proud of his heritage and his roots, having graduated from Warsaw High School in 1957 and later earning both his bachelors of science in Education and Masters in Guidance and Counseling from Ohio University. His love of education and great desire to work with students lead him to influence young people in several school districts. Jim initially taught at West Lafayette Junior High as a biology teacher and after leaving to complete his master's degree, returned to Coshocton County as a Guidance Counselor at Coshocton High School. Jim next continued his counseling career at Thomas Ewing Junior High School in Lancaster, Ohio only to return to Coshocton High School once again where he completed 38 years in education. Shortly thereafter, Jim was asked to serve the River View School District as the Junior High Guidance Counselor with a focus on directly working with students. This assignment would serve as a favorite in his education journey. 

Regarded as a Champion in Education for his influence upon his students, Jim also embraced his passion for athletics by serving as a basketball coach in each of the Coshocton County school districts. Having had a love of athletics by participating in basketball and baseball in high school as a Warsaw Pirate, Jim led both boys and girls at varying levels from junior high to varsity. He proudly has maintained lifelong relationships with his fellow coaches and players. He often enjoyed reminiscing about their CHS 18-0 Freshman boys’ season in 1975 and his OHSAA 200 wins honor while coaching CHS girls. He was honored to have coached standouts at all levels. Many of whom went on to achieve at the junior college level through participating in professional sports. Several have reflected on the lifelong impression Jim left of how to stand strong and courageous when facing adversity and being of good character in supporting your community and those you hold dear. 

Additionally, Jim treasured watching his favorite teams with his family as a forever fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns, Indians, and his alumni, the OU Bobcats. His passion for education led him to retirement projects with the community in mind. Jim began documenting the history of basketball for Warsaw High School using Coshocton Tribune articles. This later grew to document Coshocton County Basketball as well. Jim thoughtfully created bound books by year, self-funded to raise money for his other passion project, funding the Warsaw Alumni Association Scholarship Program. Beginning in 1992, Jim influenced the creation of this scholarship program awarding scholarships to selected students who had attended Warsaw Elementary School. This program has continued and to date has raised nearly $200,000 for graduating seniors. 

Throughout his journey, Jim has maintained a true love of the outdoors. He spent countless amounts of time with family and friends enjoying fishing both near home and in Canada and hunting rabbit, squirrel, and deer. He also was known to simply find a tree to rest against while spending time in nature. From the beginning of his life till the end on Earth, Jim carried a deep faith and great devotion in service to the Warsaw Presbyterian Church. During his years of membership, he served or led as deacon, elder, a tenor in the church choir and janitor for nearly 30 years. Jim's most passionate contribution was teaching the adult Charisma Class as Sunday School Teacher for 50 years. 

Although Jim stood in service to his community, his most beloved place was with his family. Together he and Joan raised their daughters, Kathy (Bob) Bigrigg, and Kristy (Louie) Retton and sons, Rich (Amy) Lawrence, and Gary (Jacy) Lawrence. They adored their grandchildren, Jandi (Jared) Adams, Joe (Jessica) Bigrigg, Anthony Portillo, Hillary (Dustin) Kennedy, Grant (Gabi) Retton, Josh (Brooke) Bigrigg, and Joleigh, Jax, Lexy, Lyla, and Jude Lawrence. They were blessed with great-grandchildren, Jordan, Jozie, and Jagger Adams, Harrison and Lincoln Kennedy and Bindi Bigrigg. Jim was fortunate to have been raised with his sister, Judith (John) McKee. and proud to have had brothers-in-law; Tim (Cathi) Shrimplin, Dan (Kelly) Shrimplin, Walter (Suzanne) Shrimplin and Jack Jago along with sister-in -law Kristine Shrimplin. Jim loved his many nieces, nephews and cousins and his dear friends; Jon (Suellen) Husted, Gary (Anne) Kilpatrick. and Darrell (Jeanne) Kilpatrick.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law, Clarence Jr. and Doris Staser Shrimplin, sister-in-law, Sue Jago and brother-in-law, Ronnie McClary along with his favorite pup, Stormy. 

Services took place on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 11:00 am at the Warsaw Presbyterian Church. Pastor Bob Wright officiated. Burial followed in Valley View Cemetery. The family received visitors on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm, at the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw, and one hour prior to the service on Monday.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the James W. Lawrence Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the Warsaw Alumni Scholarship Association, 43334 US Highway 36, Coshocton, Ohio 43812: or the Warsaw Presbyterian Church, 306 East 4th St. Warsaw, 43844. Jim would want you to remember to persevere and love fiercely as written in the last stanza of Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost…The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.