Obituary of Lawrence Edwin Salge

Lawrence Edwin Salge September 10, 1928 - March 22, 2012 Lawrence Edwin Salge, Sr. received his final reward and entered eternal life on March 22, 2012. Lawrence was born in the Houston Heights on Sept. 10, 1928 to Emma and Otto Salge. In high school he met Mary Virginia George. She won his heart and on Aug. 27, 1948 they began their 63 years of marriage. Together they created a home that exemplified the unconditional, unselfish love of Christ. In this home they raised their 4 children: Eddie, David, Mary Ann, and Lynette. Lawrence started work with Humble Oil and Refinery in downtown Houston in the mail room when he was 18. He made this his career of 37 years, retiring from Exxon at the Baytown Refinery in 1983 where he had been a computer programmer. After retirement, Lawrence devoted himself to the things he enjoyed most: carpentry and woodworking, serving others, and being PawPaw to his 6 grandchildren: Amy, Jonathan, Jacob, Matt, Josh, and Zach. Lawrence Salge's hands caught basketballs, tossed grandchildren, built cabinets, and screwed in light bulbs for lonely old ladies. His hands gripped baseball bats and remodeled homes. They cuddled his children, embraced his wife, offered drinks of water to Habitat for Humanity workers, held great-grandchildren, and petted his beloved dogs Buffy and Lucky. Lawrence's hands served selflessly and were the main way he gave of himself to others. The family finds comfort in knowing Lawrence is with his Creator, but he will be missed dearly here on earth for his love, kindness, and sense of humor. He is preceded in death by his parents Emma and Otto Salge, his sisters Marie Carter and Catherine Weiman, and brother-in-law Walter Carter. He is survived by his devoted wife Mary V. Salge, his children Eddie and Dorothy Salge, David Salge and Rebecca Crow, Mary Ann and Philip Wharton, and Lynette Cleburn and Glen "TBear" Walker, his grandchildren Amy and Jason Ailor, Jonathan Wharton and Mary Alice Baldwin, Jacob and Vanessa Wharton, Matthew and Ashlee Cleburn, Josh Wharton and Mallory Gessner-Wharton and Zachary Cleburn and his love Julie Brenengen , his 5 great granddaughters Madison Ailor, Rainy Cleburn, Kira Cleburn, Aubrey Wharton, and Tatum Cleburn, brother-in-law Calvin Weiman, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and numerous friends. A celebration of Lawrence Salge's life will be held on Tuesday, March 27, at 3:30 pm at Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 16335 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 77062. In lieu of usual remembrances, donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity or the Music Excellence Fund of Clear Lake United Methodist Church.