Diane Thornton Lawrence

Diane Thornton Lawrence of Houston, TX died on October 24, 2026, at the age of 79 and was received into glory by the grace of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was the loving and faithful wife of her late husband, Tom Lawrence, whom she met while a student at the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. She is survived by her siblings, Lois Thornton Hauck (and Gary), Marilyn Thornton, Tim Thornton (and Dianne), nephews Greg Hauck, Andrew Hauck (and Becky), Jared Hauck (and Rachel), and Max Thornton; and nieces Heidi Hauck (and Steve), Rachel Thornton Bracho (and Carlos), and Abby Thornton; in addition to a grandnephew Jacob Hauck and grandniece Liliana Hauck. She was preceded in death by her parents, Forrest A. Thornton and Geraldine Sutherland Thornton, and her husband, Bergan Thomas (Tom) Lawrence.

Diane was born on August 2, 1947 in St. Albans, West Virginia, and came to know the Lord at an early age through a Bible Club her mother conducted in their home. She graduated from St. Albans High School and the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago with a major in piano, having also completed her general studies at the University of Houston, despite her early diagnosis with cancer.

While at the University of Houston, she and her husband Tom began working with international students, and hosted many of them to their home. It was there she and Tom sensed the call of God to the mission field, teaching English at the University of Harbin, China while ministering to the students in their home under the auspices of Pioneers, a Christian missions organization. They then relocated to Hong Kong, commuting across the border to teach students at Shenzhen University. To enhance her effectiveness, Diane taught herself Mandarin and Cantonese and continued to host students and missionaries with her gift of hospitality.

Additionally, not having children of her own, she had a love for teaching them in Sunday School and in Bible Clubs. This ultimately became her primary focus in addition to practicing hospitality, following her husband's own battle with cancer and death that had made it necessary for her to come home for a period of time.

She later returned to Hong Kong, and became a teaching leader for Bible Study Fellowship, also working with their children's ministry, and traveling throughout the continent of Asia. During one year alone in 2009 she made 15 trips to various locations such as Shanghai, Beijing, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, and Gansu, Yunnan and Guizhou Province.

Through the years her cancer returned several times in different forms. She always said she wanted to be a good soldier despite these difficult times, and spread joy to medical workers where she was being treated, always looking for ways to share her faith. To maintain her perspective, she kept a journal to record at least three reasons a day to be thankful.

Her favorite book was Red Sea Rules by Robert Morgan. She gave away so many of them she lost count, always knowing when someone had read it when they included some of the passages in their conversation. 

In time, Diane had no choice but to move back to the U.S. to help care for her elderly parents, and became more involved with her home church also helping with the children's ministries in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Diane's hobbies included scrapbooking, corresponding with missionary children, sending care packages, and grading Bible correspondence courses for prison inmates.

Her passions also included chocolate and Dr. Pepper!

In recent years, Diane was sadly diagnosed with Alzheimer's, making it necessary for her to relocate to assisted living. Despite all, she never lost her love for the Lord, her delight in the hymns of the faith, or her reliance on the Scriptures. 

Her favorite verse remained Psalm 16:11,"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

Services will be held at Bethel Independent Presbyterian Church of Houston on Thursday, October 29, with visitation at 10:30 am and Celebration of Life at 11 am (light refreshments to follow).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions to Pioneers (pioneers.org) in memory of Diane.