Lucien Ernest Rawls, 102, of Nashville, TN, passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
Lucien was born on Oct. 20, 1922 in Springfield, TN, the son of Ernest Edgar and Emma Mae (Clinard) Rawls.
He was educated at Springfield High School before graduating from Vanderbilt University’s Engineering College in 1946. He was a certified Professional Engineer and a lifelong member of Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and a supporter of the Sierra Club.
He was married to Dorothy (Dot) Jordan in May 1952. She preceded him in death.
During his career, Lucien applied his engineering and entrepreneurial skills at jobs with WSM Radio and TV, Clear Channel Communications, Westinghouse Electric Co., and in various ventures focused on the oil and aviation industries. He was awarded a U.S. Patent in 1978 for a system to detect underground nuclear explosions, and for many years carried top security clearances for his work in the U.S. Pentagon. Lucien was keenly interested in world and family history. He extensively studied reference books related to global cultures and civilizations, and also conducted genealogy research on the Rawls and Clinard families, tracing his ancestry back through centuries in England, Germany and other countries.
Lucien is survived by his sister, Margery Ruth Reasoner, nieces and nephews Bonnie (Johnny) Mills, Linda (Craig) Lutton, Tommy (Aimee) Reasoner, Katrina (Dave) Koscielniak, Patricia Zerbe, Jennifer (Gary) Penix, Steve Rawls, Don (Rhodie) Rawls, Dianne (Don) Yarborough, David (Evelyn) Rawls, Drew (Jill) Rawls, and Jeff (Daune) Jordan, numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews, as well as his long-time caregiver, Sarah Slaughter, and beloved friends, Cindy and Lee Walters and Tammy Keister.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Austin D. Rawls and Paul L. Rawls.
Visitation for family and friends is scheduled at 10:30 a.m., Sat., March 1 at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, with Lucien’s Celebration of Life services at 11:30 a.m. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
A luncheon at the funeral home for Lucien’s family and friends will follow afterward.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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