Robert Vernon &8220;R.V.&8221; Lawrence, 76, of Birmingham died Dec. 12, 2005. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Korea. He had retired from U.S. Steel after 37 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Merle Lawley Lawrence; his parents, Robert R. Lawrence and Estelle Short; his brothers, Daniel Lawrence, Jimmy Lawrence and Ray Lawrence; and his sister, Nellie Jane Kromer.

He is survived by his daughters, Debra Lawrence Merck of Hoover and Donna Lawrence (Grant) Alexander of Albuquerque, N.M.; his son, David Lawrence of Montevallo; a brother, Harold Lawrence; grandchildren, Blake Lawrence, Michael Merck and Lauren Merck; and numerous aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews.

Service was Dec. 16 at Southern Heritage Chapel with burial following in Antioch Church Cemetery in Pea Ridge, Ridout&8217;s Brown-Service Funeral Home directing