Larry Boyd Smith, 79 of Killeen, Texas passed away September 11, 2017 in Copperas Cove, Texas. Visitation will be held from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, Sunday, September 17, 2017 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Killeen, TX. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Monday, September 18, 2017 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Killeen, TX. Burial will follow at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, Texas. Arrangements under the direction of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Killeen, TX.
Larry Boyd Smith was born on October 9, 1937 in Biloxi, Mississippi, to Albert L. and Annie Mae Smith. The family later moved to St. Lucie County, Florida, where he graduated from Dan McCarty High School in Ft. Pierce, Florida. After graduation he joined the Army Reserves.
Larry met Shirley Sullivan after she returned to Ft. Pierce to work following her high school graduation. They had attended elementary school together before her family moved away. They were married in Dutton Memorial Presbyterian Church on February 10, 1957.
Larry went on active duty with his first assignment at Ft. Hood, Texas. He served in the Americal Division in Vietnam from July 1968 to August 1969. While he was away Shirley and the children remained in Kissimmee, Florida, to be near family. Upon his return from Vietnam, he received orders for his next assignment to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, which turned out to be the family’s favorite posting. He also served tours in Frankfurt, Germany, Hanau Germany, and two more tours to Ft. Hood. His last overseas assignment was at SHAPE, Belgium, where the family enjoyed traveling all around Europe. Larry retired as a First Sergeant at Ft. Hood on January 31, 1980.
The family remained in Killeen, where the children, Stephen, Melanie, Jeffrey, and Timothy all graduated from high school. He was “Papa” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Larry and Shirley have been active members of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church for 34 years, where he was a member of the choir and United Methodist Men.
Larry loved music and was skilled at woodcraft, leaving behind many of his pieces.
Larry was preceded in death by his daughters Melissa Smith and Melanie Machado, and his brothers Harold, Emory, and Ellwood Smith. He is survived by his wife Shirley Smith, his sisters Ione Small, and Crystal Cain, his sons Stephen T. Smith, Jeffrey A. Smith, and Timothy K. Smith, eight grandchildren, and two great-children.
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