Larry Coleman Wadle
Larry Coleman Wadle, 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather died on Oct. 28, 2024, in Houston.
Larry was born in Mexia on March 26, 1935, to Lawrence C. Wadle and Bernice Azbell Wadle. While attending Mexia High School, he was in the band; on the football, tennis, and track teams; and president of the Junior Class and Senior Student Body. Larry graduated from The University of Texas at Austin where he earned a bachelors degree in Math with minors in Astrophysics and Physics in 1958 at age 23.
On June 3, 1955, he married Bessie Fay Lively and remained her husband for 62 years until her death. Bessie and Larry were high school sweethearts for several years prior to marriage. They both worked while Larry finished his junior and senior years at The University of Texas. Their first child, Lanny, was born inAugust 1957 as he finished college. After college, they moved to Santa Monica, CA, where he worked as a computer engineer at Douglas Missiles and Space in Los Angeles. After only six months in California, he was hired as a programmer and mathematician by the Shell Oil company in Houston. He had three daughters. Sherry was born in Mexia in January 1959; Michelle in June 1960 and Kelly in August 1961, both in Houston. After eight years in Houston, they were transferred to New Jersey where he worked in New York City as a systems analyst and manager for three years and then transferred back to Houston. In 1980, they were transferred to London, England, where he worked for Shell United Kingdom as a senior manager for three years and, again back to the Houston/Katy area until now. Larry retired from Shell Oil in 1987 at age 52. Family, traveling and astronomy were his passions, and he was able to accomplish them at the same time. Larry was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1980, he joined the British Astronomical Association in 1980 and served on the Board of Visitors of The University of Texas’ Astronomy Department and McDonald Observatory for five years.
Larry and his whole family traveled in 48 states and he and Bessie also visited 80 countries and all seven continents. Larry was preceded in death by his wife Bessie, parents, Lawrence C. Wadle and Bernice Azbell Wadle, sister Delores Ouellette, sons-in-law, Patrick H. Parsons and Kenneth Ray Evans Jr., and granddaughter, Maura Wadle. He is survived by his son, Lanny and wife, Jaye Jaye; daughter, Sherry Parsons; daughter, Michelle Evans; and Kelly Davis and husband, Bob; seven grandchildren, Crystal Monk and great granddaughters, Eve and Elly; Lawrence C. Wadle II and wife, Erin; Kenny Evans and wife, Sally, great granddaughters, Kate and Jane, and great grandson, Kenneth; John Wadle; Maureen Wirtz and husband, Andrew; Payton Parsons and wife, Amber, and great granddaughter, Blakely; and Paul Parsons and wife, Elly and great grandson, Kennedy, and one on the way, Kylee Reign Parsons. He has several nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts. Larry had three goals in life: to honor and cherish his wife; to love and provide for his family in any way possible; and to love and raise his children. Although ill for the last few years, he hid it from view as best he could. He is now pain free and in the hands of the Lord and reunited with his beloved wife, Bessie. Funeral services were held on Friday, Nov 1, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 500 E. Carthage Street, Mexia, TX 76667. Interment will follow in the Mexia Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, L.C. Wadle, Kenny Evans, Payton Parsons, and Paul Parsons and great nephews, Travis & Trevor Mc-Dermott. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4464, Houston, TX 77210-4464.
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