Phillip Alfred Lawrence, Jr.

Phillip A. Lawrence, Jr., age 56 of Portage, died January 25, 2022, in Kalamazoo. He was born November 9, 1965, in Kalamazoo, the son of Phillip and Susan Lawrence. Phil grew up in several areas including Parchment and Gun Lake. He was a 1984 graduate of Kalamazoo Christian High School and attended Purdue University. Over the years, he worked in sales for several food service companies, including Sysco, and for the last 17 years as a salesman at Maple Hill Auto Group. On July 1, 2016, he married Beth (Roberts) Owen. They attended Calvary Bible Church, where he enjoyed being a greeter, usher, and Open Door ministry volunteer. Phil was an Awana Director for nearly a decade while his children were growing up. He was a small group leader with Community Bible Study and had been the Men's Teaching Director for the last year. His children have many memories of being active, including playing basketball and enjoying time on the lake. He really loved basketball and cheering for any Purdue sport. Phil enjoyed traveling and always loved finding the best food in the area, whether at a fancy restaurant or a hole-in-the-wall diner. His family includes his wife, Beth Lawrence; his children: Monica (Cody) Risch, Jonathan Phillip Lawrence, and Megan (Jason) Leigh; his step-children: Trevor Owen and Madison Owen; his parents, Phillip, Sr. and Susan Lawrence; his twin brother, Todd (Pareena) Lawrence and his brother, Greg (Debbie) Lawrence; his parents-in-law, David and Leslee Roberts; his brothers-in-law: Steve (Pam) Roberts and Phil VanderLugt; his grandmother-in-law, Phyllis Smith; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Sheri VanderLugt. Friends may visit with his family on Sunday, January 30, 2022, from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S. 9th Street, Kalamazoo. His funeral service will be held on Monday, January 31, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Calvary Bible Church, 855 S. Drake Road, Kalamazoo. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Angel Tree, Family Radio, or the Discover the Book Ministries. Please visit Phil's personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com