Lawrence "Larry" Bernard Small
May 26, 1940 ~ December 28, 2018
Lawrence “Larry” Bernard Small, age 78, of Geneva, Ohio, passed away Friday, December 28, 2018 at Geauga Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on May 26, 1940 in Wichita, Kansas to the late Ruth Irene (nee Brosius) and the late Bernard Albert Small. He graduated from Wichita West High School in 1959. After high school, he attended Wichita State University where he majored in Arts. He married Elizabeth Ann Fraelich on June 13, 1970 in Chardon, Ohio.
Larry was employed for 16 years at General Electric Quartz Plant in Willoughby and went on to work at Lubrizol in Painesville, retiring after 25 years of service. He was a proud member of Immaculate Conception Church in Madison, Ohio.
He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed everything from fishing and hunting, to camping and boating. In his early years, Larry raised and trained horses on his horse farm. He was also a classic car enthusiast and spent decades working on his cars and traveling to car shows, where he won dozens of trophies. Larry loved anything with an engine and could often be found tinkering with cars, motorcycles and tractors or teaching “the boys” how to fix things. Larry also enjoyed taking photos and videotaping all of his family adventures. In his free time, Larry enjoyed cooking, spending time with his family, taking cruises and going on family vacations. Most recently, the entire family traveled to Hatteras, North Carolina for Larry’s 78th Birthday. One of his all-time favorite things to do was sit on his porch swing, watching the fish in his Koi Pond.
Those who knew Larry, knew him for his quick wit, infectious laugh, and wildly hilarious sense of humor.
He was a fun, loving man and devoted husband, father and Papa.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth of Geneva; daughters, Danielle (Troy) Smock of Roaming Shores, Kristen (Justin) Clark Sr., of Madison and Tara (Don) Ludwick of Madison; grandchildren, Emily, Clay Lawrence, Cole and Evan Smock, Justin Jr., Avery, Tenley and Paisley Clark, Lauren, Allison, Emma, and Kate Ludwick; sister, Betty (Orland) Oswald of Montgomery, Texas; brother-in-law, Arthur McNew of Wichita, Kansas and many, many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Jason Bernard Small; parents; sister, Beverly Ann McNew; grandsons, Colin Clark, Jackson Lawrence, Nicholas and Grayson Bernard Ludwick.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Friday, January 4, 2019 at Immaculate Conception Church, 2846 Hubbard Road, Madison, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations to help cover funeral expenses may be sent to Elizabeth Small, c/o Danielle Smock, 2116 North Park Lane, Roaming Shores, OH 44084.