Myrtle Ellen (Ball) Lawson

Myrtle Ellen Ball Lawson Myrtle Lawson, formerly of Beltsville, MD, died peacefully on July 12, in Rockville, MD. She was 94 years old. A private service was held at George Washington cemetery.

She was born June 13, 1926 in Honaker, VA. She grew up on a farm with her five brothers and one sister in a house that her grandfather built. One of her favorite farm chores was “cow hunting” where she had to walk through the hills and woods to find the cows and bring them home. She had many interesting experiences and, in 1951, she married Arlie Lawson of Buchanan, VA. They moved to Bluefield, West Virginia, where Myrtle was a switchboard operator with the telephone company. They relocated to the Washington, DC area when Arlie took a position with the Trailways bus company. They settled down in Beltsville and stayed there to raise their family. Myrtle was a homemaker until her daughters became school-age, then she worked part-time at the Arbitron company where she made many lifetime friends. She enjoyed taking trips and seeing new places. She traveled all over the United States and even dared to venture to Switzerland. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Beltsville. enjoyed volunteering with Meals on Wheels, and going to weekend yard sales. Each summer, Myrtle planted a big vegetable garden and looked forward to visits with her relatives in southwest Virginia, especially the Ball family reunions. Myrtle is survived by her two daughters, Cathy and Pamela and their spouses, John Thomas and John McLean, three grandchildren (John Dunne, Ryan, and Melanie McLean), and two step-grandchildren (Melissa Thomas and Vanessa Riner).

She was preceded in death by Arlie in 2007 and her six siblings, Hollis, Eugene, Freeman, Floy, Vickie and Joe.

Donations may be sent to First Baptist Church of Beltsville.

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