Pauling I. Lawrence, 91

Enjoyed Family, Travel, Music & Volunteer Work

Pauline I. Lawrence, 91, of Ames, Iowa, died Feb. 3, 2012, at the Israel Hospice in Ames.

A memorial service will be held at a later date this spring at Collegiate Methodist Church in Ames.

Pauline Irma Hilborn was born Jan. 13, 1921, in Perry, Ohio, to Paul A. and Irma (Richardson) Hilborn. She grew up on a small farm that primarily raised chickens, and was the youngest of four sisters, with a brother 10 years her junior.

She graduated from Perry High School in 1939 and worked her way to a business administration degree from Ohio State University in 1944.

On Nov. 2, 1944, she married Roger L. Lawrence in Perry. After their marriage, she worked as an accountant at Shepard Field, Texas, and then settled in as a homemaker for many years. Later, she worked for the Iowa State University Information Service.

Always an active volunteer, she was a 4-H leader and camp counselor in Ohio and, in Ames, was a Scout leader and taught Sunday School at Collegiate Methodist Church for many years. She was active in many different activities at her church, including the membership committee and the United Methodist Women. She also coordinated wedding receptions, served as a greeter, and sang in the choir. She was also active in Dane 207 Questers, the HO Chapter of PEO, and was on the boards of the Friends of University Museums, Friends of Octagon, Youth and Shelter Services, and Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance. She was recognized for her volunteer work by the Governor of Iowa, Youth and Shelter Services, the Methodist Church and by the Ames Tribune as an "Unsung Hero."

A particular interest was the history of her own and her husband's family. She was a charter member of the Story County Genealogical Society, and used her hobby to organize trips to many places in the United States and other countries to track down family records, homes and gravesites. Her last trip was to take family members to visit places their ancestors had lived in England, prior to their departure for new lives in the U.S.

She enjoyed her family, travel, all kinds of music and her volunteer work.

She is survived by her husband, Roger; son and daughter-in-law, Ted and Myra Lawrence of Oak Park, Ill.; daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Jeff Mount of Blair; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and her sister, Elizabeth Hartsock of La Habra Heights, Calif.