Larry Ray Becker, 78, passed away on May 19, 2023 at his home surrounded by family.
He was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, to Jacob George Becker II and Wanda Maxine (Radloff) Becker. Soon after he was born they moved to Topeka, Kansas where his two sisters Mary and Betty were born. They lived in a tent down on the river where his Dad would fish and work as a longshoreman. The family then moved to Houston, Texas where Larry, age 7, and his mother came down with polio. She was completely paralyzed from the neck down and was out in a iron lung for a year, but got better and was taken out. She stayed paralyzed the rest of her life, but she came home where she was taken care of by family. They moved to Kansas City, Missouri when Larry was 12 years old. At age 17 he joined the Navy, but his sister Betty wrote a letter to the Governor of Missouri asking him to bring Larry back home for his Mother due to her health. The Governor did bring him back. At age 18 he went to live with his half sister Wilma and her husband Art in Abilene, Texas. Art was in the Air Force so they moved to Derby, Kansas to the Wichita Air Base. Larry started working at Harmon Machine Company where he met the love of his life, Carol Leopold. They started dating in November, 1965 and were married August 6, 1966. On June 13, 1969 they welcomed their first daughter Deanna Rae Becker. Then on August 22, 1971 they had a son Russell Lee Becker, and on February 28, 1982 they welcomed their third child Larry David Becker, which completed their family. They now have 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Larry started work at Cessna Aircraft in 1965 and was there 22 years before they had a layoff. He then worked for Boeing for 15 years where he was a Manufacturing Engineer at both companies. When Boeing had their layoff he went to work for Bradbury Company in Moundridge, Kansas as a Small Mill Operator. He really liked doing that, and did not go back into working in an office. He retired after 12 years there. He and Carol started traveling where they enjoyed seeing many states. He had a great heart and always enjoyed helping others if they needed a place to stay, would help feed the homeless in Wichita and continued until he learned that he had Liver and Pancreas cancer which took him to be with Jesus. Larry was known as the Cowboy as he always wore his cowboy clothes and was also known as the Fireworks Man. We have been selling fireworks for over 55 years now.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents Jacob & Maxine Becker, brothers Paul Becker and Jacob Becker III, sisters Wilma Strong and Betty Simmons.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; children Deanna Huffman, Russell Becker and Larry Becker; grandchildren Timothy, Tara, Tyler, Nathaniel and Tristan; great grandchildren Rowan, Beatrix and Ashelia; sisters Diane Dann and Mary Wilson; many other family and friends.
A Celebration of his life is pending.
Baker Funeral Home Valley Center is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com.