In Memory of

Margaret

Jane

Lawson

(Barlow)

Obituary for Margaret Jane Lawson (Barlow)

Margaret Jane (nee Barlow) Lawson passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at her home in Lakewood.
Known affectionately as Peggy Jane, PJ, and Peegie, she was born in Paterson and grew up in Freehold. She attended Freehold High School, and graduated from St. John Baptist School for Girls in Mendham. She earned her Teacher’s Certificate from Trenton State Teacher’s College, and graduated from Southern Seminary Junior College in VA. During the early 1960s, she taught elementary school in Howell Township.
With her husband, Robert I. Ballou, Jr., Peggy Jane co-owned and co-operated Silton Swim School, in Manasquan, from its inception in 1962 until 1976. The couple built the swim school/day camp from scratch, converting an 8-acre farm into a first-class swimming facility. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, they taught and mentored many hundreds of young people – among them, student swimmers from The Peddie School in Hightstown where Robert Ballou coached. His tragic death in 1975 marked the end of an incredible chapter in Peggy Jane’s life.
Her life took a wonderful new turn in 1980 when she married Robert “Bullet” Lawson, beloved science teacher and track coach at The Peddie School. Following his death in 1994, she lived quietly and happily in Shark River Hills, Neptune before moving to Lakewood 13 years ago. She loved her family, her birds, football, game shows, and Facebook.
In addition to her two husbands, she was predeceased by her parents Robert B. and Mary F. (nee Jones) Barlow, and her brother Robert B. Barlow Jr.
She is survived by her 3 beloved children, Robert I. Ballou, III and his wife Sherri of Saunderstown, RI, Thomas B. Ballou and his wife Nancy of Oakland Park, FL, and Mary Lynn Farkas and her husband Scott of Manasquan; her 3 grandchildren, Jennifer, Scott, Jr. and Kayla Farkas; her brother James B. Barlow and his wife Adele of Neptune; and her 3 step-children, Robert, Wes, and Shawn Lawson.
In keeping with her wishes, a private graveside service will take place at Union Cemetery, Hackettstown.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall Twp.
To offer online condolences to the family please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com