Larry Charles Vasbinder Jr.

Larry Charles Vasbinder Jr., aged 57, passed away on October 5, 2024, due to complications post-surgery. He was born on December 19, 1966, in Yorktown, Texas to parents Larry Charles Vasbinder Sr. and Algerine Rose (Belitz) Vasbinder. He attended Yorktown High School where he played football, leaving a trail of newspaper articles with his name, interviews, and score counts. Larry prided himself on being the first student ever in Yorktown to take a High School class while in Middle School (“Obviously it was in math, because I was bored by the first week in middle school”). He was also good enough to shoot skeet competitively with the adults when he was a teenager and graduated Valedictorian of Yorktown High School in 1985. He earned a full athletic scholarship to play football at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where his teammates lovingly nicknamed him “Vassy”. He lettered three years on the Baylor Football Team, graduated Cum Laude in Business Administration for his undergraduate degree, and went on to get his MBA & CPA, specializing in tax.

He married Holly Ann (Adams) Vasbinder on January 20, 2001, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes meeting her as “the best stroke of luck I’ve had in my life,” and says that she “has made me twice as good a person as I would have been without her.” They had two daughters, Madison and Haley. Larry was very happy that they both ended up on the football field despite the odds, with Haley in athletic training for the football team and Madison in Color Guard.

Larry was proud to have built a business able to support thirty people and their families and he dedicated much of his life to its success. He took over the family ranch, where he’d visit weekly to check on cattle, the fields, and his mom. In recent years, Larry was able to spend more time playing golf — a great passion of his — and made many close friends on the course. He lovingly earned the new nickname “LarBear” from them, and a lifetime record of seven hole-in-ones to go with it (or nine, when bragging to his daughters.) On College Football Saturdays, Larry would be grilling up a storm, struggling to set up the outside TV (“Hey, Holly, can you help me?!”), flipping through every commercial at the speed of light, ignoring the commentators (they talked too much), and indulging in his specialty: homemade chili.

Known as a man of few words and many thoughts, Larry enjoyed helping others and was happiest when the people around him were happy. He will be remembered for his obstinate nature, his big heart, his humility despite his many achievements, his enveloping hugs, and his all-surrounding love and strength.

He is survived by his wife, Holly, his two children, Madison and Haley, and his mother, Algerine. He is predeceased by his father, Larry Sr.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Austin Metro Hockey Assn. and/or FirstTee.org

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Larry’s life with a visitation on Sunday, 1-3 PM followed by a service from 3-5 PM at Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas 78752. A gathering for light food will follow, 5-7pm at Peached Social House, 6400 N. Lamar.