Larry Pirtle
LAKE MILTON — On Saturday, May
28, 2005, after a two-year battle with cancer, Larry C. Pirtle, 59, of Lake
Milton, OH, died of
complications. He leaves behind his loving wife of 40 years, Marian,
60; four children; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Larry graduated from Geneva
High School in 1963,
whereupon he married the love of his life, Marian Anthony of
Conneaut. Larry and Marian started their family immediately with
their first child Lisa Pirtle, 39, and continued the
family with Teresa, 38, and husband, Paul Etzler, Chad 34, and
wife Laura Pirtle, and Dave Pirtle,
22.
Larry followed in the footsteps of his father,
Clarence Pirtle, deceased, who was married to
Margaret, deceased, and became an elder in the Church of Christ. His
church family was very active and important in his life. He was
there day and night for all who needed him. They will all miss him
dearly.
In life lifetime, Larry was a Cleveland
sports fan, Boy Scout leader, a Little League coach, a girls’ softball coach, a
Rotary member, hosted two exchange students from other countries, and took in
any troubled teen who landed on his
steps. In the peak of the gas crisis in the ’70s, he purchased a
motor home for the family. By the age of 18, all of his children had
seen at least 40 of the 50 states, and his youngest child had been to 12 other
countries.
At the time of his death, Larry was a self-employed mechanical engineer, who
worked out of his home. His only sibling, Dr. Charles
E. Pirtle, 63, had just retired from Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.,
as Dean of Faculty and Professor of International Relations, School of Foreign Service. Charles
and his wife of 40 years, Mary, have purchased a home 10 miles from Larry and
Marian, and will be moving here within the month. They were intent
on spending their retirement traveling together.
A note from his wife: He was my best friend, my protector, the love of my life.
A note from his children: Our father was not just a father; he was our mentor,
our best friend, our teacher and the rock of our family.
Larry’s family and extended church family invite you to help us Rejoice in his
life. Calling hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at FOX
FUNERAL HOME, 4700 Market Street,
Boardman, OH.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Lake Milton Church of Christ, 16313 Milton Ave., Lake Milton,
OH.