Name: Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services - Highland Park
Address: Fort Wayne, IN

My fondest memory of you is when you were on your riding mower, grinning like a little kid. You were full of joy, dear brother ♥️♥️♥️

Larry, the love of my life, my knight in shining armor, who swept me off my feet so gently, 20+ years ago, at a church dance. I never thought that there was "Love At First Sight",  but  it happened with you the first night we met!  A year ago today, as I lay next to you, holding you in my arms, I felt you slipping away from me,  as you were taking the next journey in your life. Some day, somewhere, are paths will meet each others and we will be together again. We don't know when, or where, but it is meant to be and will happen. Wait and watch for me, I will be there. Love you 💖 forever and always, Maggie



I knew Larry only for a short time,  but  I saw him fight to stay as strong and independent as possible  until the very end.  I send prayers and peace to Maggie and both of their families.  

I met Larry through my ministry with Heartland Hospice at his home with Maggie.  I knew Larry was a kind, understanding man with a deep love of America.  We talked of Korea while he was in the Army.  Surprisingly, I was stationed around the same area.  This established a trust that allowed Larry to share more of his story.  
A highlight for me was at the home Flag Folding Ceremony given in his honor.  After the flag was folded and presented to him, he stood up slowly, and rendered his last salute to the Flag.  If there ever was a man who loved America and it's freedom, it was Larry Watson.
So grateful to know him, even for a short time.
Chaplain Mark Perkins
US Army (Retired)

A dear friend that I met twenty-one years ago through Joel. You stood up with us when Joel and I  got married .We had some good times together, including the night we convinced you to go to Saint Jude's  for a dance....The night you met Maggie.  About a year later, you and Maggie were married...Happy times...Trolley Art, Fort Wayne Art Museum, parties , cookouts, Civic Theater...Good Memories. You were  a person with so much knowledge from music, art, cars,photography and the list goes on. Thank you for serving our country....as a Veteran you have a special place in my heart.
I am so glad that the four of us got to spend time together in the last couple months...continuing to make memories. I  feel blessed  that after work I got to set with you on September 1, 2020...talk to you,hold your hand and pray with you before you went home to be with our Heavenly Father. God loves you and so do we. Maggie, please know that we love you and we're here for you. we will miss Larry..but he is in a much better place then we are.
Love you Always Carol 

I first met Larry at Rogers Markets in the produce department. He was the manager & I his assitant at Cantebury Green in 1975. At that time he drove a maroon Mustang ragtop (the Corvettes came later). We went to several INDY 500  races together ! His love for that race never faded over the years, and we watched the delayed 2020 / 500  just weeks before his passing. We spent many evenings listening to music down the basement of the Juliette Ave. home.  Shared many meals, art fairs, car shows, motorcycle rides, outdoor festivals with one another.  He was my best man when I married my bride Carol in September 9, 2000.  Later that same month I was his best man when he married Maggie. Yes one of my long time dearest friends is gone and I'll miss his smile & voice of assurance each day moving forward. Rest in God's arms & watch over your loved ones from above.  Joel

It would be remiss of me if I didn't recall the famous "winery episode" the FW Corvette Club used to take to the wineries around Kalamazoo, Michigan in the dead of winter many years ago.  We would go to a Corvette swap meet for the guys and to appease the women, a short jaunt west to the wineries.  Tasting was the most fun part of the trip and from that tasting, you could purchase as many bottles of the lively libations as your wallet would allow.  At one of the winery sampling rooms, we were all gathered around a round-ish bar and had a glass in front of us for sampling.  You were given a "score card" of wines and you'd mark which ones you preferred as you tasted them when the employee would give  you a sample.  You could tell him/her that you wanted to try what he/she was pouring or you could pass.  Not may of us were ignorant enough to pass--or we'd give it to the person next to us if we didn't want it ourself.  Larry had a very distinctive palate and evidently didn't care for the sample that was being poured.  Mind you, there was nowhere to get rid of the taste if it didn't agree with you.  You know where this is going.....it didn't agree with Larry and he headed for the exit door in record time!!!  He came back in and gave a raving review of the wine without missing a beat!!!  We all laughed about it for many meetings and events for a long time and whenever something came up about wine, Larry was sure to express his opinion.  We'll miss your sense of humor old friend.....

I came to know Larry from my BFF his wife Maggie. I really got to know Larry the last 8 weeks of his life. Larry was a guarded person
very private but once he lets you in , you find a very likeable and kind person. His great loves were his wife maggie, his grandkids,and his beautiful yard. His love of nascar was one of many things he and maggie had in common and enjoyed together  their  20+ yrs together. He knew he had  the love,trust and stability of his wife. Maggie  with support  and love of her sister Marcia provided him the patience, love ,caring and  understanding that he needed towards the end of his life.  Maggie surprised him with a new riding lawn mower I like to picture Larry in heaven riding away with a huge smile on his face knowing that he left this world having had a wife who truly loved him. and that he also had friends and family that will miss him. 

Larry I hope all your days are Sunny for your love of mowing !

I was very shocked to hear of Larry's passing.
I used to live on an adjoining street from Larry and Maggie, and they came to my 40th birthday party.  Larry and I are both Corvette guys; that's actually how we met.  I'd see him pass by my house in his yellow '86 pace car.  I had a red '76 at the time.  
When my hair stylist moved to Arizona, she recommended her friend Tracey.  At my first visit, I drove the '76.  Tracey said, "Ooo, that looks like one that lives near my dad's house."  Turns out that her dad was Larry!  :-)  We met up soon after that.
My condolences to Maggie, Tracey, and all of Larry's family and friends.

My heartfelt condolences to Maggie, Larry's wife of 19 years. Their tremendous love for each other was evident whenever I saw them together. Larry's passion for racing was fueled by Maggie's long-time love of racing also. Larry truly enjoyed being outdoors walking behind his mower and tending to the beautiful garden and flowers they planted year after year. It was an honor to help Maggie with Larry's care the last two weeks of his life and to be with them when he passed. He will be greatly missed.

My condolences and prayers are with  Larry's daughter, Terese Marie, her husband, Mark Atkinson and Larry's grandson, Aidan.

Larry was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was a 1969 graduate of South Side High School.  Upon graduation, Larry enlisted in the U.S. Army, completing his basic training at Fort Polk, LA and his initial MOS training in Radio Teletype at Fort Devens, MA, which was not a successful MOS for him.  He went on to become a Materiel Supply Specialist in the ASA (Army Security Agency) again back to Fort Polk, LA for more instruction & preparation.  In 1970-1971, Larry was stationed at Vint Hill Farms Field Station, a U.S. Army and National Security Agency (NSA) signals intelligence and electronic warfare facility near Warrenton, Virginia.  On New Year's Day, 1972, he began his tour of duty in South Korea, as an Army Communications Electronic (COMMEL) Materiel Supply Specialist, stationed at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys (Camp Humphreys).  He was promoted to Grade Specialist E5, in May of 1972, receiving an "early-out", honorable discharge in September, 1972, when he returned home to Fort Wayne.

Larry was a graduate of Purdue University, FW and had a long, successful career as a Manager in a local grocery chain where he had once worked as a teenager.  When the grocery chain downsized and ultimately closed its doors, he went to work for Zollner (Piston) Corporation, and then The Kroger Company until his retirement.  His passion was anything automotive related, especially auto racing.  As an Indiana native, Larry spent many Memorial Day weekends at the Indianapolis 500 throughout the years and was an avid NASCAR fan, standing firmly behind Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  



I met “Grandpa Larry” at his home for a dinner with Mark, Tracey and our mutual grandson, Aidan.  I saw him several times at Birthday parties and family dinners.  Grandpa Larry was so good to Aidan.  They shared a love of cars.   He gave Aidan his “Arctic Cat“  (ride on Jeep) that Aidan rode all around his yard for years. 
Grandpa Larry always had a great smile even when he was mowing his lawn!  
I’m sure there is a ride on mower reserved for him.  R.I.P.  (Ride in Peace) Grandpa Larry. 
Maria Atkinson 

OBITUARY

Lawrence "Larry" David Watson

24 March, 1951 – 2 September, 2020

Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services – Highland Park

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