Larry Dobbs

A Tribute to the Life of Larry Dobbs (friend of Gerry Arnott of Veterans Voices):

On Thanksgiving Day, 11/26/15, Larry Dobbs went home to the Lord. Larry was 67 years old. He died of respiratory failure resulting from anaplastic thyroid cancer, a result of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Larry was a proud Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam war. He was in the Air Force from June 1967 to June, 1970, and was a weapons systems mach. He served in the Philippines, Vietnam & Korea.

Larry was a Christian man who loved the Lord and who served the Lord most of his life. In his teenage years, he was a lifeguard most summers at Camp Penial in Saugatuck, MI. He had a special place for teens & served at Penial in Chicago, which was a Hebrew Christian youth center & church. He was also involved in Awana Clubs and the Christian Service Brigade as a leader.

Larry was a one of a kind person. He was very clever, had a great sense of humor,  and always helped people. He worked at AT&T for over 35 years as an electrician. He would help his friends, neighbors and family with any electrical problem for free. He loved talking to people. He was an open, genuine person.

Larry was a family man who was married to Mariann for over 41 years. Through the years they would take driving vacations to see the country. South Dakota was one of their favorite places and they visited Custer State Park, outside Rapid City 22 times.

His cancer came on rapidly. It was less than a week from the time he found out to when he died. Most cases of this cancer are from veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.

One of his friends was a lady who suffered from breast cancer and heart damage. Larry called her frequently to bring up her spirits. At his funeral she told his wife he was a special man and struggled to find a word to describe him; then it came to her, Larry was “Holy”.   

Larry was cremated and his ashes were spread in Custer State Park in South Dakota, where he always loved to be.

“Those you love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard but always near, still loved, still missed & very dear.”