Larry Waldron

Larry Harvey Waldron was born to parents Harvey Leonard and Marie Elizabeth (Abold) Waldron in Hay Springs, Nebraska on October 17, 1936. Larry was the eldest child, with one sister and two brothers: Joycelene Waltman, Leonard “Butch” Waldron and David Waldron. He passed away peacefully at his home in Rushville on April 12, 2026, at the age of 89.

Larry was married to his loving, supportive wife Mary Francis (Mann) Waldron for 70 years. Larry and Mary were high school sweethearts at Chadron Prep and married on March 5, 1956. He served in the Army doing reconstruction work in Germany soon after their marriage. They were blessed with four children and, later, sons and daughters-in-law: Victor (June) Waldron, Debra (John) Temaat, Steven (Cheryl) Waldron and Raymond (Elaine) Waldron. Larry and Mary made their home in Chadron, Crawford, Scottsbluff, Rushville, as well as Albuquerque, New Mexico. While his children were growing up, Larry worked as a police officer, fireman, roofer and did construction work. After raising their family, Larry and Mary were inseparable and did nearly everything together. Mary describes Larry as, “Absolutely the most loving person I know”.

At an early age, Larry developed a love of the great outdoors, spending his days outside, with nature as his playground and wild animals as his pets. As the oldest child, he would hunt to help provide food for the family. Over the years, Larry became quite the outdoorsman. He loved to hunt for food, rocks, fossils, and wild-forage for mushrooms and medicinal herbs. He enjoyed fishing and had a natural knack for it. His son Victor and daughter Debra were his fishing buddies, often fishing in trout ponds. He passed on his love of fishing to them. He also shared his love of hiking and photography with his children. Larry expressed his artistic talents in many ways: flint knapping, tanning hides, beadwork, silver work, and all sorts of fur trader and native skills. Fossils and native artifacts that Larry and Mary found are on exhibit at museums around the US. Larry enjoyed the Fur Trader Days, Flint Knapp-ins at Fort Robinson and other places, as well as Rock Swaps near and far. He remained active his entire life, walking two miles a day!

Larry and his wife were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses in Alburquerque on December 22, 1962. Larry was a bit rough around the edges before learning about Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. It was his love of God and desire to imitate Christ that moved Larry to become such a loving person. He let his light shine by being kind, generous, hospitable to everyone. His love moved him to help others, whether it was sharing his faith, a meal, his home, or the shirt off his back.

Larry was an inspiration and will be dearly missed by his wife Mary, their children and spouses, his brother David, many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a host of family and friends.