ADVANCE, Mo. -- Robert M. Lawrence, 77, of Fort Smith, Ark., died Saturday, March 3, 2012, in a Fort Smith hospital.

He was born Feb. 21, 1935, in Essex, Mo. He attended school in Advance, and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1958.

Lawrence served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

He worked in the space industry 12 years from 1958 to 1970 and was an insurance agent with Millers Mutual in Alton, Ill., 21 years.

Survivors include his wife, Jerry Lawrence of the home; a daughter, Karen Lindsey and husband Kevin of Fort Smith; a son, Robert D. Lawrence and wife Teresa of St. Charles, Mo.; a sister, Marilyn Bohnsack of St. Louis; four grandchildren, Melanie Haynes of O'Fallon, Mo., Kurt Lindsey of Austin, Minn., Kody Lindsey of San Diego, Calif., and Benjamin Lawrence of St. Charles; and a great-grandson, Leo Haynes of O'Fallon.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. March 17 at Trinity Methodist Church, 5275 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St Louis.

Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be sent to National MS Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163 or Western Arkansas Regional Alzheimer's Association, 2408 S. 51st St. Suite F, Fort Smith, AR 72903.

To place an online tribute please visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.