Lawrence William Berkel

The legacy is written, a legend is lost.

Lawrence William Berkel of Beckley WV passed from this life and into the waiting arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He passed at the Rainelle Healthcare Center in Rainelle, WV.  The family has been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and quality of care the facility provided Lawrence over the course of his illness and will forever be grateful.  We would also like to thank the hospice team as well as Dr. Saddiqi and his entire crew at the VA.  Those nurses are phenomenal.  Lawrence never had to question the quality of care nor the outpouring of love his family showed him assuring him he was loved until the very end.

Lawrence was 93.  We had a long beautiful run with our father and we are grateful for that blessing.  We would also like to thank special friends and hunting compadre, Dan Farley and John Eye.  Annette Raso McGrady would show up with one of her awesome creations which Lawrence was always grateful for and labeled them "scrump down delicious." A Lawrence OG word.  Doug and his wife Sherry were forever cooking his favorite dishes and desserts.

The family will celebrate the life of Lawrence William Berkel on Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, 1901 South Kanawha Street in Beckley, WV.  Friends may visit with the family from 5pm – 7pm with funeral following immediately after.  All are invited and welcome to stay.  Burial will be Wednesday, January 24th at noon in the Brick Church Cemetery located in Huttonsvile, WV.

Family members will serve as pallbearers.

The family asks that donations of sympathy be made to the WVU Medicine Children's Hospital, in Lawrence's honor.  Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guest book at www. Roseandquesenberry.net. The family also wishes to thank the wonderful and utmost professional folks at Rose and Quesenberry.  They are the best.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents, Carrie Lorraine and William Cornelius; his loving wife of 65 years, Gatha Lee; his precious son whom he lost way too early, James "Jimmy" William and a sweet baby grand-daughter, McKenzie Shae, and a sister, Lucille Buchanan as well as several brothers in law and sisters in law.

Those left to cherish his memories are sons Douglas and wife Sherry of Glen Daniel, WV; Ronald Linn of Lewisburg, WV; Larry and wife Kandace of Romney, WV; and Kelly and his wife Carrie of White Sulphur Springs, WV.  His grand-children; Bethany, Holly, Forest, Olivia, Travis, Tristan, Payton, Pierce and several great grand-children as well as brother in-laws; Dick and Stanley Gould of Valley Head, WV and Beverly, WV; sister in-law, Betty Frame of Sutton, WV and nephew David Buchanan of Snohomish, WA.

Lawrence was born August 1st, 1930 in Louisville, KY, but most exciting, he was born again on October 19th 2023, surrendering his heart and soul to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior (Luke 15:7).  Jesus said, joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner who repenteth. Lawrence basked in the glory of Jesus and glowed like the beacon of a lighthouse.  His sincerity and acceptance were obvious.  One never had to question, it was true and just to the core.

He grew up in Valley Bend, WV.  He was a 1948 graduate of Tygart Valley High School where he excelled in basketball and received an athletic scholarship to Davis and Elkins College where he played for the legendary coach, Robert "Red" Brown who would go on to become coach at WVU.  After two years at Davis and Elkins, he chose to leave a very stable and safe environment to fulfill a calling of his country enlisting in the US Navy, serving 4 years.  He was assigned to the USS Bennington traveling abroad and seeing the world.  He spoke passionately in regards to his piloting the Grumman F6F Hellcat and what a great aircraft it was.  In stark contrast, he never spoke of the explosion on board the Bennington that killed 103 personnel and injured hundreds.  After his stint in the Navy, he enlisted in the US Army and finally ended his military career with the WV National Guard.  He would then return to Valley Bend, WV and try his hand at coal mining and as a guard at Huttensville prison, which would segway him into becoming a conservation officer with the WV Department of Natural Resources.  He was also affiliated with the WV State Police.  During this time, he would partner with fellow DNR officer, Albert Payne, and rule the ranks in competition pistol shooting garnering WV state champions status on more than one occasion.

Most notably in his long storied career was his very successful tenure as superintendent at Lake Stephens.  In 1966, Lawrence accepted the position of superintendent at the newly created Lake Stephen Outdoor Recreation area, ultimately making it one of the premier outdoor recreation parks in the US.  The park would operate at or above full capacity the entire summer season year after year creating a totally self sufficient operation which required no outside funds through taxes or government assistance other than the initial construction cost of the lake and facilities.  He designed, drafted and engineered the entire water system from scratch, which lasted his entire tenure and never failed even on the busiest days of consumption, which would have been an insane amount of water. He would finish his working career with John W. Eye company managing the Lewisburg store.

Lawrence was an avid outdoorsman which included his true passion, turkey hunting.  His knowledge and skill set usually produced results though his hunting partners would say he always walked too much and too far.

He was a member of the WV Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame and this was a testament to his skills as a turkey hunter as well as the epitaph on his head stone which reads, "I'd rather be turkey hunting."

As an avid outdoorsman, he taught all of his boys at a young age that hunting and guns come with great responsibility that must respected and practiced at all times.  A lesson we could all follow.

Lawrence was many things in his long storied life, but above all, he was an incredible husband to Gatha and an amazing father to Jimmy, Doug, Ronnie, Larry and Kelly.  His family loved him immensely and he knew that until the very end.  Dad, you will be missed dearly, much love.

Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net .

Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 1901 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV.