Winfred (Win) Mathis Lawson born December 14th, 1919, in Paducah Kentucky died October 2, 2012, of natural causes in Sacramento, California, at 92 years of age.

Win was the son of Guy Mathis Lawson and Leona Pearl Smith. After graduating from Paducah Tilghman High School in 1938, he attended nearby Murray State University on a full scholarship program.

During World War II Win served in the U.S. Army, entering armed conflict in 1945 at the Battle of the Bulge. During the war Win received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star awards. Win joined the U.S. Army Reserves and retired as a Colonel in 1979.

Following World War II, Win attended the University of California at Davis where he received his master’s degree. In 1951 Win joined the University of California (UC) Cooperative Extension program. He became associate director in the Berkeley administrative offices and retired in 1985 as the Director of San Joaquin County.

Throughout his retirement Win remained active in his community through participation in Rotary International, the American Red Cross, and as a deacon in his church. Win enjoyed spending quality time with his sons and four grown children from his second marriage, nine grandchildren and one great-grandson. He enjoyed speaking at schools about his lighter experiences in the war, and doing presentations on Flag Day.

Win was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Patricia (Curtis) Lawson.

He is survived by his wife, Lola Margaret (Hull) Lawson; son, William Curtis Lawson; son, Andrew Mathis Lawson and his wife Shelley; younger brother, Vernon Lawson and his wife Pauline; nephew, Rollie David Lawson; niece, Sherry Jean Lawson; and his large extended family through Lola.

Win was interned in a private military service at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California, on October 11, 2012. His memorial service is 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, 2012, at Woodland United Methodist Church in Woodland, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Winfred’s memory to either the Wounded Warrior Project or the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).