Larry L. Bockelman
March 11, 1934 – November 15, 2015
Larry passed away suddenly Sunday afternoon, November 15, 2015. At 81 years old, he was blessed with good health, until he quickly left this world to be with his wife he missed so dearly.
Larry was born on March 11, 1934 in Wichita Kansas, to Harry and Gladys Bockelman. At the age of five he moved to his uncle’s farm in Winfield Kansas where he lived until he started high school. After graduating from Wichita East high school, he worked in his father’s machine shop. He joined the Air Force in 1951, where he flew many hours in radar surveillance planes as an engineer.
After leaving the Air Force in 1955, Larry attended Phillips University in Enid Oklahoma where he met Millie Cole, and married in 1960. After earning an electrical engineering degree from Phillips, he earned a Master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.
In 1960, he joined the U.S. Army Missile Command as a civil servant in Akron, Ohio. Larry and Millie’s daughter, Michele, was born in 1961, and in 1964 they moved to Huntsville where they had resided since. In 1967, their son David was born. Larry had a long and productive career serving the U.S. Army Missile Command, retiring in 1993.
Larry was preceded in death by Millie, who passed away on June 11, 2015. In addition, he is preceded in death by his brother Charles. Larry was loving husband, taking care of Millie through her long and painful illness. He is survived by his brother, Roger Bockelman; sisters, Jan Schmidt and Betty Schiebinger; children, Michele Lee and David Bockelman; and his grandchildren, Alec, Mitchell and Niki Bockelman.
Although we are saddened by Larry’s sudden departure we feel a sense of joy in his reunion with his beloved wife. His long race being over, he has found peace in the arms of his Lord.
Viewing is scheduled for Friday, November 20 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home from 10 AM to 11 AM. The service will follow with Rusty Hillis officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chase Park Church of Christ building fund.
