Barbara Jean Lawton

Age 96, Philadelphia, Pa.

Barbara Jean Lawton died at Cathedral Village in Philadelphia on December 2, 2020 at the age of 96. Mrs. Lawton is survived by her three children, Anne Gwynn of Glenside, PA, Virginia Gwynn of Sunapee, NH and William Gwynn of Lyon, France, nine grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, in addition to three stepsons, their children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Lawton was born Barbara Jean Harris on February 9, 1924 in Adelaide, Australia. Her family subsequently moved to Sydney, where she completed high school and worked for the Australian Broadcasting Commission before marrying William C. Gwynn Jr., an American soldier in 1945.

She spent most of her married life in the U.S., raising three children. She married Dr. George Lawton in 1973 after her first husband died.  Dr. and Mrs. Lawton lived in Virginia and California and after Dr. Lawton retired, they raised cattle on a farm in Luray, where they held large, lively family gatherings each summer. Dr. and Mrs. Lawton were founding members of the Performing Arts of Luray (PAL). Mrs. Lawton enjoyed gardening and floral arrangement, was an active member of a garden club and supper club and enjoyed playing tennis, swimming, knitting and doing needlepoint. She and her husband were avid world travelers, taking cruises all over the world..

 After Dr. Lawton died, Mrs. Lawton moved to Cathedral Village in Philadelphia where she did volunteer work, voraciously read the New York Times every day and never missed a tennis match on TV. She was in constant contact with her children and grandchildren and always wanted news and pictures of her great grandchildren..

Her ashes were interred on December 10, next to those of Dr. Lawton, in the columbarium at Christ Episcopal Church in Luray. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in Barbara’s memory be given to Performing Arts of Luray. Her children are  planning a family celebration of her life next summer.