Harvey Lawrence Pilkinton

Harvey Lawrence Pilkinton was born on February 7, 1942, and passed peacefully in his sleep on September 23, 2023. He was a resident of Ivan, Louisiana.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, located at Pilgrim Home Baptist Church in Ivan, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Bro. Robert Beadle. Burial will follow at Pilkinton Cemetery. Honoring Lawrence as pallbearers will be Josh Pilkinton, Michael Pilkinton, Caleb Jones, Cody Jones, Jeff Lyons, and Billy Beauregard.

Lawrence graduated from Benton High School where he met the love of his life, Ruth Shepherd. They were married and made their home in Benton where they raised two sons, Lawrence Jr. and Mark. Lawrence was an outdoorsman at heart. He loved being outside enjoying God’s creation hunting, fishing, and working his farmland. He was a man who enjoyed taking a hands-on approach to life. At an early age, growing up on his family farm, his parents taught him work ethic and love for God’s creation. Lawrence loved to work hard. He had several careers during his lifetime. He worked at Western Geophysical and was a carpenter for Alvin Rhodes and Son. In 1967, Lawrence started his own construction company HL Pilkinton Construction. Because of his love for heavy equipment and working with the land, he was able to run his construction company for 40 years. During the construction company years, you could always find him at a coffee shop. There he reunited with old friends, and he made many lifelong friends. Lawrence’s life turned full circle when he and Ruth got to retire to the family farm. At the farm they enjoyed fishing in the pond, sitting on the front porch, and enjoying their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of Lawrence’s greatest enjoyments was his tractors and his cows. Later Lawrence became Ruth’s caretaker which humbled him and brought him closer to God! We know that he was so happy to be reunited with Ruth that he missed so dearly.

Harvey was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey Grey Pilkinton and Nettie May Sheppard Pilkinton and his wife, Eleanor Ruth Shepherd Pilkinton. Left to cherish his memory include his sons Mark Pilkinton, and Lawrence Pilkinton, Jr. and wife Kristi; grandchildren, Josh Pilkinton (Laura), Michael Pilkinton (Caroline), Christina Pilkinton Lyons (Jeff), Caleb Jones, and Cody Jones (McKenzie); eight great-grandchildren; sister, Beth Matlock; brother, Mert Pilkinton and wife Karen; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Pilgrim Home Baptist Church, 16258 Highway 157, Benton, LA 71006.