Lawrence Torrez

Lawrence Torrez entered into his eternal rest Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living Facility, in Southern Pines.
The family held a visitation at 10 a.m. Saturday at Crumpler Funeral Home, in Aberdeen, with burial to follow later in Southern California.
Born Feb. 9, 1930, to Lorenzo and Rayes Torres in Lincoln County, N.M., Lawrence was a beloved son, brother, husband, father-in-law, grandfather and friend. He grew up in Roswell, N.M., and moved to California after joining the U.S. Army, where he served with distinction. In 1949, Lawrence was 6th Army Lightweight Champion of the U.S. Army Boxing team.
In 1951, he married the late Grace Fierro Torrez, and together they raised six children. An avid athlete, Lawrence parlayed his U.S. Army boxing championship into a semi-professional career in Southern California before joining U.S. aerospace manufacturer North American Rockwell in Los Angeles. After his career there, Lawrence, a natural salesman, was a successful real estate executive in California before retiring in Pinehurst.
He enjoyed meeting people, loved horse races, and was a skilled, avid golfer. He was a masterful teacher of the game and a devoted follower and supporter of renowned U.S. golf champion Nancy Lopez through his lifelong friendship with her father, Domingo Lopez. A favorite pastime for Lawrence was to recall the many games he and Domingo played with Nancy when she was first learning to love the game, and how much her success meant to her friends and family.
Lawrence’s survivors include three daughters, Roxanne Torrez, of Baltimore, Cynthia Torrez, of Los Angeles, and Michell Kirkpatrick and husband, James, of Greensboro; three sons, Conrad Torrez and Robin Lance Torrez, of Roswell, N.M., and Larry Torrez and wife, Jo Carol, of Alexandria, Va.; a brother, Manuel Torrez, and a brother-in-law, Pete Fierro, both of Los Angeles; and nine grandchildren, Michael Andrew, Darren Mathew, Monica, Kimberly Elaine, Christopher James, Tiffany Michell, Paula Jayne, Anica Marie and George Antonio Tristen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to FirstHealth Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 5888, Pinehurst, NC 28374; or to the National Air and Space Museum, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013-7012.
Online condolences may be made at www.crumplerfuneralhome.com.
Care of the family is entrusted to Crumpler Funeral Home, Aberdeen.