Lawrence Julius Craun, 96, departed on April 1, 2019 at the home of his daughter in Fort Myers, Florida. His funeral service will be held on Monday, April 8, at 11:00 am at Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg. Family will receive friends from 10:00 am to 11:00 am followed by interment at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Upperville, Virginia.

Lawrence was born June 16, 1922 in Facquier County, VA to the late Julius Daniel and Dovie Mae Waters Craun. He was preceded in death by his brothers Charles "Jeep", Robert, and Cecil Craun; and his sisters Alice Craun Gordon Showalter and Helen Craun Kirk.

Lawrence proudly served in WWII as a Technician Fifth Grade in the Medical Detachment 147 ^th Infantry from February 1943 to his honorable discharge in December 1945. The Army awarded Lawrence a Victory Medal, an EAMET Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service stars, an APTCAMPAIGN Medal with one Bronze Service star, a Good Conduct medal, and a Meritorious Service Unit award.

He was united in holy matrimony to the late Ival Angie Kestner, October 30, 1942.

Lawrence lived most of his married life and raised his family in Leesburg, VA, where he worked for the Rust estate at Murray Hill. He lived in Hamilton, VA, for about 10 years while working for Huntington and Mary Harris of Leesburg. He then retired to Alexandria, LA to be near his son, David and his family. During his retirement, he volunteered his time and materials to help the boys and young men at the Louisiana Royal Rangers faith-based youth camp. After his wife passed, Lawrence made his home in Ellicott City, MD, and Fort Myers, FL.

Lawrence is survived by his two sons and four daughters, Lawrence Michael Craun (Leesburg, VA), David Lee Craun (Woodworth, LA), Barbra Craun Colquitt in Fort Myers, FL. His daughters, Nancy Elizabeth Craun (Sterling, VA), Lois Rebecca "Becky" Craun (Vienna, VA) and Dovie Martha Craun (Spotsylvania, VA). His surviving grandchildren are John Michael Craun Sr., Sherri Craun Jaffee, Bryan Craun and Shelly Craun Davenport, Katrin Brook Craun, and Neal Matthew Burton. He has nine great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

He also is survived by his nieces Cindy Craun Pearson (Middleburg, VA), Patricia and Becky Craun (Ohio) and his nephews Daniel Craun (Ohio) and Glen Gordon, Junction City, Kansas.

Lawrence was a man who could be counted on. He earned the respect, love, and regard of his family, friends, and neighbors. He was known as an honest, hard-working, moral man with a strong character, unblemished reputation, and firm religious belief. Lawrence had a great sense of humor and could tell a really great story. He was rich in the things of life that really counted.

In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to HOPE Hospice, Development Office, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908. https://www.hopehcs.org/donate