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Lawrence Edward Stahl passed away peacefully with his family by his side Dec. 20, 2025. Lawrence was loved by all who knew him. He always had a friendly laugh or smile. He was born Jan. 22, 1928, in Fairmont, West Virginia, to George and Bertha Stahl. When he reached 18, he enlisted in the military. While he was serving during the Korean War, his wife, Colleen, and daughters, Joyce and Janice, perished in a house fire at the Army base in Fairbanks, Alaska. Lawrence chose to leave the Army shortly after that and moved back to the Tacoma area.
After getting out, he went to Bates Vocational School in Tacoma, Washington, to be a heavy equipment mechanic. While going to school, he met Patricia Hewitt and they were married. Lawrence adopted her son, Michael. They had three more children, Mark, Lawrence Jr. and Sheryl. After graduating from Bates, he worked for the City of Tacoma in the heavy equipment shop. He also served as the IAM union shop steward for nine years.
The family moved to the Parkland area in Tacoma and then settled in the Eatonville area where Lawrence could have a garden and clear the land with a bulldozer he bought and fixed. He also enlisted in the National Guard and completed his service, retiring again with the rank of first sergeant. He retired from the city and the military at the age of 60.
He and Pat traveled America in their truck and fifth-wheel trailer visiting family and friends. They moved to Centralia to be close to Mark and his family but were still traveling as snowbirds. Pat had a heart attack and passed Jan. 31, 2001. Lawrence met and married a lady from his church, Mona Williams. They had a wonderful life and traveled as snowbirds, too.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Colleen, and daughters, Joyce and Janice. His wife, Patricia, and son, Michael, and daughter, Sheryl, preceded him in death as well. Mona passed Jan. 26, 2018. A few years later, Lawrence moved to Mark’s house. He and Mark loved to go fishing and went everywhere enjoying their passion, from the ocean to the Sound and the Columbia chasing salmon, which was Larry’s favorite fish to catch. They also fished numerous lakes, with a long trip with their boat to Chelan and Lake Roosevelt.
He is survived by his son, Mark (Tami) Stahl of Adna; Lawrence Stahl Jr. of Yelm; and adopted son David Stahl of Tacoma; numerous grandchildren, Jill (Jason) Evans of Chehalis, Kevin (Ashley) Stahl of Napavine, Jason (Nichole) Stahl of Mossyrock, and Shellie (Marc) Secretan of Okotoks, Alberta; and many great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
There will be a memorial service Jan. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Centralia Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Mount Vista Street in Centralia. Interment will be Jan. 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery in Lakewood. He will be buried next to his loving wife, Patricia.
