Larry Charles Colwick

In the fall of 1947, a baby was born to Gwendolyn and Ray Colwick. They were blessed with a beautiful, healthy, and good-natured baby boy, Larry. He was a good son and their joy throughout the years. Not only did Larry bless them, but for the next 75 years, he blessed everyone who knew him with his quiet and gentle presence, his twinkling blue eyes, his warm and friendly smile, and his subtle humor. He was a great conversationalist, rarely talking himself, preferring to listen. His secret was to get others talking with interesting and perceptive questions. He was genuinely interested in others and appreciated those he loved in small and big ways.

Growing up, Larry said he “mostly enjoyed baseball.” He was proud that he achieved the Order of the Arrow in Boy Scouts and appreciated the time his coaches and Scout leaders spent with him. He played trumpet in the band. One of his regrets was that he never learned to play the piano and never owned a grand piano. He loved music, especially country, and he loved classic cars.

He attended school in Arlington, Texas. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1965. He fondly remembered spending summers on the farm with his grandfather in Cranfills Gap, Texas. Following high school, he earned degrees from UTA, University of Hawaii, and University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Larry joined the Navy and attended the Navy school in Alameda, California. He was later assigned to VAQ130, the aircraft carrier Oriskany, and served in the Pacific during the Vietnam era.

For 33 years, he worked for the Department of Defense at Redstone Arsenal. Afterwards, he worked as a contractor for UAH, General Dynamics, CAS, and others. He was most satisfied with his work during the Gulf Wars, assisting in logistics for the Patriot missiles. He also enjoyed his work in Kuwait with the Embassy there.

Larry was always one to live the adventure. He was famous for finding “deals” on airfares, rental cars, hotel reservations, etc. and was often asked by friends to help them book the “best deals”. He loved to travel and ski, traveling west with the Huntsville Ski Club or other buddies once or twice a year.

His Faith was deep and strong, and he demonstrated it in quiet ways. He regularly attended church and service, demonstrated generosity, studying, and prayer. He was truly a person who loved God and loved his neighbor and tried to keep the peace. The world is a better place because he lived.

He is survived by his loving wife Sallie; his son John (Rena); his grandsons Mark (Emily) Reeder and Julian Reeder; his mother Gwendolyn Oller; his nephew Jeremy Collins; and his great-niece Cambri Collins. He is preceded in death by his father Ray Colwick; his sister Lisa Oller; his step-dad Bill Oller; and Sallie’s son Jeremy.

His ashes will be interred with military honors at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

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