Lawrence Colin Klingensmith

M, (24 September 1915 - 30 January 1961)
Father-Biological*George Klingensmith b. 1893, d. 1954
Mother-Biological*Stella Gallagher b. 1892, d. 1972
Last Edited=12 Jul 2026
Grave Marker of Lawrence C. and Mary M. Klingensmith
     Lawrence Colin Klingensmith was born on 24 September 1915 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.1,2,3 He was the son of George Klingensmith and Stella Gallagher. Lawrence Colin Klingensmith went by the nick-name of Klinks. Lawrence, age 4, appeared on the US Census of 1920 living at 2704½ Charles Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,in the household of his parents, George and Stella Klingensmith.4 Lawrence, age 14, appeared on the US Census of 1930 living at 605 Chautauqua Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,in the household of his parents, George and Stella Klingensmith.5

Lawrence Colin Klingensmith, age 24, married Mary Margaret Sahr, age 21 , daughter of Louis Leo Sahr and Elizabeth Eleanor Pschirer, on 1 December 1939.

Children:
Children:
1. Lawrence Klingensmith
2. Mary Ellen Klingensmith
3. Thomas Klingensmith.


Lawrence, age 24 years, and Mary, age 21 years, appeared on the US Census of 1940 on 381 Pershing Avenue, Leechburg, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.6 According to the Federal Census in 1940, Lawrence was a loader.6 On on 16 October 1940, Lawrence registered for the World War II draft, while living at 2435 Maple Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, giving his age as 25 and his employer as the Allis Chalmers Company.2 He enlisted in the US Army on 25 July 1942.7 Lawrence, age 34 years, and Mary Klingensmith, age 31 years, appeared on the US Census of 1950 at 242 Kennedy Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.8 According to the Federal Census in 1950, Lawrence was a brakeman on a railroad.8 He died on 30 January 1961 at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at age 45 from undetermined natural causes.1,9,10 Lawrence's obituary of 1 February 1961, reads:

KLINGENSMITH — Suddenly, on Monday. Jan. 30. 1961. at 6:30 p. m., Lawrence C. Sr., beloved husband of Mary Sahr of 2618½ Norwood Ave., Northside: father of Mary Ellen, Lawrence C., Jr., and Thomas Klingensmith; son of Stella Gallagher and the late George Klingensmith: brother of Regis and William Klingensmith. Friends received at the FRANK W. SIMONS FUNERAL HOME, 2025 Perrysville Ave. Funeral Friday morning at 9:30. High mass of requiem in the Annunciation Church at 10 o'clock.

Published by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1 February 1961.10


Lawrence was buried on 3 February 1961 at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in section G, lot 114, space 6.1,9

Compeller's Notes:
Birth: On his birth certificate he is called Colin Lewis Klingensmith. He used Lawrence Colin throughout his life however.

Citations

  1. Department of Health, Record Group. Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1973. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2014.
  2. United States, Selective Service System. U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2011.
  3. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Pennsylvania, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1906-1917. Leh, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2015.
  4. Census Bureau. 1920 U.S. Federal Census. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2010.
  5. Census Bureau. 1930 U.S. Federal Census. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2002.
  6. Census Bureau. 1940 U.S. Federal Census. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2012.
  7. Ancestry.com. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2005.
  8. Census Bureau. 1950 U.S. Federal Census. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2022.
  9. Find-a-Grave. Online https://www.findagrave.com/
  10. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "KLINGENSMITH" Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1 February 1961,.