DesLauriers, Robert E. SAN DIEGO -- Longtime San Diego County resident "Mr. Church" Robert E. Des Lauriers "Bob" passed away peacefully November 5, 2013. Born in Waukegan, Illinois, raised in Los Angeles, Bob moved to Hawaii after graduating from high school. There Bob worked as a carpenter on military projects, arriving two months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Soon after, Bob joined the Army Air Corp and graduated as 2nd Lt. pilot in 1944. Bob flew 33 missions as a B-17 Bomber pilot over Germany. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1945 Bob married Shirley Marie McHenry in Sioux City, Iowa and moved to Denver, Colorado where he graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Colorado. They moved to San Diego and in 1952 settled in La Mesa. By 1958 Bob opened his own practice and in 1959, Bob's design of Carlton Hills Lutheran Church in Santee, CA and its "Hyperbolic Paraboloid" received an Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects and stills stands today on its hillside, majestic and elegant.
From that point on, Bob's contemporary- modern style became his signature. Completing 67 religious projects, 150 residential, 187 Navy, 18 public schools and extensive projects. Bob was the President of the S.D. Chapter of American Institute of Architects (1961), President & Fellow in the Society of Military Engineers, Vice President of CA Specifications Institute, Member of the Council of Religious Architects and he served on many community and state councils, boards, and associations. With his extensive dedicated work in the religious field, Bob was nicknamed "Mr. Church" by his clients and professional peers. Bob was also a proud member of the The American Legion Post Number 0303.
Bob was preceded in death by his "lady in pink" and loving soulmate, Shirley and is survived by his children Craig and Michelle, daughter and son-in-laws Donna and Russ, grandchildren Carley and Sergiu, Kellen, Dan, Nick, Ashley, Corbin, Dominique and two great-grandchildren Julian and Ava. Celebration of Life will be held Friday, December 27th, 2013, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 5150 Wilson Street, La Mesa.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Bob's name to the Honor Flight San Diego benefitting WWII Veterans. Honor Flight San Diego, ATTN: Donations, 9423 Keck Ct., San Diego, CA 92129. (Honorflight sandiego.org).
Published in U-T San Diego on Nov. 17, 2013
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