Joe Lawrence

Joe Franklin Lawrence, 85, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center at Mercy Health Paducah.

A native of Akron, Ohio; Joe moved to Paducah as a child and was a graduate of Lone Oak High School. He obtained a Broadcast Engineering degree from The Keegan School of Broadcasting in Memphis, Tennessee. Joe held the position as a Broadcast Engineer for many affiliates including WPSD in Paducah. Joe later became a Telemetry Specialist with RCA where he supported NASA in the Gemini and Apollo Space Programs. He was an avid golfer, Duke of Paducah and enjoyed volunteer work with the Senior Citizens Center and Baptist Health Auxiliary. Joe was a member of Concord United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Wells Lawrence; his daughter, Vicki Lawrence Anderson (Mike), of Houston, Texas; Step children, Bethany Wells Wyatt and Staci Wells Drake, of Paducah; Scott Wells (Sandi), of Brentwood, Tennessee;. Brother, Billy Lawrence, of Gainesville, Virginia. He was known as Papa Joe to grandchildren David Anderson, Jase Wyatt, Corey Drake, Bailey Drake and Hope Wells.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Addie Lawrence.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Billy Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to: The Lions Club/WPSD Telethon of Stars, c/o Independence Bank, PO Box 966, Paducah, KY 42002.

You may leave a message of condolence and light a candle of remembrance at milnerandorr.com.