Larry Ray Harlan, 87, peacefully passed into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Saturday, October 8, 2022, surrounded by his family.
Larry was born March 5, 1935 to Harry E. and Madalene (Kennedy) Harlan in Shirley, Indiana. He graduated from Wilkinson High School in 1953 and from Purdue University in 1958 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He married Barbara (Wisehart) in 1956, and they had 3 children.
The young couple with baby Pamela moved to Newton, Iowa after his graduation from Purdue and he began his engineering career at Maytag. While there, he designed a die for the lid of the washing machine. His next job took them back to Indiana, where he worked for Westinghouse in Muncie. He was awarded patents for the cooling systems he invented for the power transformers. His last job took him to Houston, Texas, where he worked for Metro on the team who designed the park and ride systems. He also designed and developed the vacuum system for the buses.
Larry was
He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Madalene Harlan, brother Nick, ex-wife Barbara Wood, 2nd wife Janet, and third wife Deloren.
Surviving him are his daughters Pam (Kevin) Campbell of Houston, Cindy (Chris) Swinford of Magnolia, and son Jeff of Frontenac, Kansas and stepdaughter Laura Sibley. Also 9 grandchildren: Madelynn, Taylor and John Campbell, Sarah, Samantha and Sophia Swinford, and Brenden, Kaiden and Ariella Harlan. Also his sisters Jana Keller of Tallahassee, Florida, Marta (James) Blodgett of The Woodlands, Jo (Custer) Clements of Sargent, and Lynda Hardy of Toledo, Ohio and brother Buddi of Houston. Also, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff of The Heritage of Tomball (and his special friend Molly) for making his last few years happy and memorable, and also to the caring staff of Devotion Hospice.
The Celebration of Life service will be held on October 29th at 11:00 am at Living Word Church of the Nazarene, located at 16607 Clay Road, Houston, Texas 77084.
Larry used his gifts and had a passion for building projects on the mission field, so in lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations to the Living Word Church of the Nazarene building projects in their missions here and abroad. https://livingwordlive.churchcenter.com/giving
Services
Memorial Service
Sat. Oct. 29, 2022
11:00 am
Living Word Church of the Nazarene
16607 Clay Rd
Houston , TX 77084.
Living Word Church of the Nazarene
Houston , TX 77084.
Larry Ray Harlan, 87, peacefully passed into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Saturday, October 8, 2022, surrounded by his family.
Larry was born March 5, 1935 to Harry E. and Madalene (Kennedy) Harlan in Shirley, Indiana. He graduated from Wilkinson High School in 1953 and from Purdue University in 1958 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He married Barbara (Wisehart) in 1956, and they had 3 children.
The young couple with baby Pamela moved to Newton, Iowa after his graduation from Purdue and he began his engineering career at Maytag. While there, he designed a die for the lid of the washing machine. His next job took them back to Indiana, where he worked for Westinghouse in Muncie. He was awarded patents for the cooling systems he invented for the power transformers. His last job took him to Houston, Texas, where he worked for Metro on the team who designed the park and ride systems. He also designed and developed the vacuum system for the buses.
Larry was
a master craftsman. He designed several of the houses that his family lived in, as well as helping with construction. He was a gifted carpenter, wallpaper hanger, gardener, painter, mechanic and well, he could do just about anything. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang in a barbershop quartet in college and in various church choirs. He could play the banjo, guitar and ukulele. He could make wonderful potato soup, pancakes and homemade ice cream. He was always ready to help with odd jobs at church or for a neighbor. He attended The Church of the Nazarene in Indiana and in Houston, where he faithfully served in many capacities. He was kind, witty, warm, patient and steady. A wonderful father and a dear friend to all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Madalene Harlan, brother Nick, ex-wife Barbara Wood, 2nd wife Janet, and third wife Deloren.
Surviving him are his daughters Pam (Kevin) Campbell of Houston, Cindy (Chris) Swinford of Magnolia, and son Jeff of Frontenac, Kansas and stepdaughter Laura Sibley. Also 9 grandchildren: Madelynn, Taylor and John Campbell, Sarah, Samantha and Sophia Swinford, and Brenden, Kaiden and Ariella Harlan. Also his sisters Jana Keller of Tallahassee, Florida, Marta (James) Blodgett of The Woodlands, Jo (Custer) Clements of Sargent, and Lynda Hardy of Toledo, Ohio and brother Buddi of Houston. Also, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff of The Heritage of Tomball (and his special friend Molly) for making his last few years happy and memorable, and also to the caring staff of Devotion Hospice.
The Celebration of Life service will be held on October 29th at 11:00 am at Living Word Church of the Nazarene, located at 16607 Clay Road, Houston, Texas 77084.
Larry used his gifts and had a passion for building projects on the mission field, so in lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations to the Living Word Church of the Nazarene building projects in their missions here and abroad. https://livingwordlive.churchcenter.com/giving
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