W. Lawrence Weeks

Cortland, Ohio - W. Lawrence Weeks Jr., 81, died Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Windsor House of Champion. He had suffered for many years from heart disease. He was born December 1, 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of the late Walter and Effie Faye Robinette Weeks.

Mr. Weeks attended high school in Gadsden, AL where he was awarded an athletic scholarship to Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned his degree in Industrial Management. He served in the US Army Reserves after graduation from college.

He stared his career in the steel industry at the Gadsden plant of Republic Steel Corporation in 1957. He was promoted to the general supervisors' office in Cleveland, OH where he would proceed to occupy top operating positions at the Mahoning Districts of Republic Steel. This included Warren, Youngstown and Niles, Ohio plants. In the late seventies he was selected by Republic Steel to attend the Sloan School for Senior Executives at M.I.T.

In the early eighties, Mr. Weeks became Vice-President of Industrial Relations with Republic Steel and remained in that position at LTV Steel which was a corporation formed by the merger of Republic Steel and Jones and Laughlin (J&L) Steel. Later he took the position as Executive Vice President of McClouth Steel in Michigan. Lawrence returned to Warren in 1989 as President and CEO of CSC Industries Corporation, Copperweld Steel and Ohio Star Forge Steel. Later he took employment as a Vice President of Manufacturing and Manager of several plants located in the coal areas, serving coal and gold mining companies.

Lawrence served on three area Chambers of Commences, three hospital boards and two University and College boards. He was involved in key positions with three United Way Campaigns in three different cities. He served on the SCOPE of Trumbull County as a board member and managed the Income Tax Program for SCOPE, Warren.

Memories of Lawrence will be carried on by his wife of 55 years, Nina Jo Weeks, sons: W. Lawrence "Tripp" (Kim) Weeks, III of Marietta, GA, Matthew Blake (Karen) Weeks of Sheridan, AR and, Lincoln Dow Weeks of Towson, MD, grandsons: Matthew Blake Weeks, II of Olympia, WA, and, Rodney Kyle Weeks of Sheridan, AR, and a sister, Mary Faye Staggs of North Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Over the years his passion was centered on his family and a myriad of cherished friends, his dogs, golf and fishing. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as elder and other offices, The Buckeye Club and Republic Steel Salaried Retirees Association.

Family will receive friends Sunday, July 10, 2016, from 3:00 pm till 5:00 pm at McFarland & Son Funeral Home, Warren. Services will be held 1:00pm at, First Presbyterian Church, on Monday, July 11th with visitation one hour prior to services at the church. The Rev. Rusty Cowden will officiate. Anatomical donation has been made to the Western Reserve School of Medicine and the final committal and inurnment will be held at a later date at the First Presbyterian Church Columbarium.

The family would like to recognize the efforts of the staff of Windsor House at Champion for care and compassion provided.

His family suggest contributions be made in the form of donations to First Presbyterian Church Warren, 256 Mahoning Ave. N.W. Warren, OH 44483 or Hospice of the Valley, 5000 East Market Street, Suite 19, Warren, Ohio 44484

Arrangements are entrusted to McFarland & Son Funeral and Cremation Services Co, 271 North Park Avenue, Warren, OH 44481, 330-393-9621. Please visit www.McFarlandCares.com to view this obituary, send condolences, and order flowers.