Obituaries

In Loving Memory of Larry Don Wade

March 1, 1948 to October 5, 2026

Larry Don Wade, 78, passed away at his home on October 5, 2026. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend whose generous heart, adventurous spirit, and ability to connect with people touched the lives of so many.

Larry was born on March 1, 1948, in Nacogdoches, Texas. He lived a full and active life filled with family, friendships, hard work, travel, and a genuine desire to help others.

Larry proudly served his country in the United States Army. He began his military service in 1968 and served through January 1972, including service overseas in Vietnam. He served as a crew chief and aircraft mechanic and was honorably separated from the Army. His military honors included the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Medal, and Crewman's Badge. His dedication to and support of the military continued throughout his life, and he was always passionate about finding ways to give back to those who served.

After his military service, Larry spent many years working in construction and as a regional truck driver throughout Houston, Texas, and surrounding cities and states. He later moved to Florida, where he retired as a Weight Inspector with the Florida Department of Transportation. Retirement did not keep Larry still for long. After returning to Texas, he continued helping people by coordinating and hauling RV trailers throughout the area.

Larry's life was marked by meaningful relationships and a deep love for his family. Later in life, he was reunited with Cindy, someone he had known when they were younger. They shared many memories from those years, and after many years apart, their paths crossed again. Their friendship grew into love, and they married in 2019.

Larry seemed genuinely happy with Cindy, and their years together brought him companionship, laughter, and love. Cindy cared for Larry and remained by his side until the end of his life.

Larry loved spending time with his family and reminiscing about the memories they made together, especially their days on the river. He enjoyed fishing and dove hunting and treasured the opportunities to share those experiences with the people he loved.

He also had a strong sense of adventure and enjoyed traveling to new towns and exploring new places. Some of his more recent adventures included hiking the South Rim at Big Bend National Park, taking a week long catamaran trip through the British Virgin Islands with family, and taking a road trip to Yellowstone National Park.

Larry had a natural ability to connect with people. He never met a stranger and could spend hours talking with someone he had just met. He enjoyed learning about people's experiences, sharing stories about places he had been, discussing projects he was working on, and talking about subjects that interested him. Many of the people he met along the way became lasting friends.

At home, Larry was almost always working on a project. He loved tinkering, coming up with new ideas, and finding ways to improve things around the house. His family will fondly remember how excited he could become about his latest project and how he always had something new to show them.

Larry was not known for spending a lot of time cooking, but when he did, it was usually something on the grill or a fish fry. His family will always smile remembering the times he would call his son in law for advice about preparing a dish, sometimes asking for the same advice he had already been given before.

Most of all, Larry was incredibly proud of his family. He often talked about how proud he was of his children and grandchildren and loved hearing about their lives and watching them grow into young adults. His family knew how deeply he loved them.

Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Cindy; his children, Mandy, Victoria, Matt, and stepson Kevin; his grandchildren, Brandon, Tyler, Dillon, Aubree, Gianna, Nora, Gavin, Claire, and Dane; his sisters, Pam and Phyllis; and many extended family members and dear friends who will deeply miss him.

Larry was preceded in death by his mother, Billie Jo Wade, and his father, Floyd J. Wade.

Larry believed in continuing to move forward in life. One of the lessons he taught his family was to keep pushing for the things you want and never give up. He lived that philosophy through his work, his adventures, his projects, and the many people he helped along the way.

Those who knew Larry will miss his conversations, his stories, his sense of curiosity, and the excitement he brought to whatever he was working on. His family will especially miss talking with him about the children and grandchildren, hearing about his latest project, and simply having him there to share another memory or story.

Larry had a huge heart, and he made it easy for people to be themselves around him. He leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will carry his love, lessons, and stories with them for generations to come.

He will be deeply missed and forever loved.

We love you, Dad.

Memorial Service

A memorial service celebrating Larry's life will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in Georgetown, Texas, with close family and friends gathering to remember, honor, and celebrate his life.