Lawrence Richard "Larry" Gramling's Obituary
Lawrence Richard “Larry” Gramling of Alexandria passed on February 21 at the age of 83. Larry was born in Gadsden and lived a full and eventful life and was much loved by those who knew him, especially his wife Jan. The two met on Memorial Day weekend 1969, and Larry proposed on Thanksgiving weekend of that year. They were married on Larry’s 28th Birthday, January 9th , 1970, as a compromise between Jan’s planning for a March wedding, and Larry hoping for a time later the same evening that he proposed. They celebrated 55 years of marriage on his 83rd birthday last month.
Larry was a twenty year veteran of the US Navy beginning in 1962. He had many stations and postings over his career in the Navy. He always said the most beautiful spot to him was Christ Church, New Zealand where he made many friends on his layovers to Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze. He had 3 different stations in Antarctica over his 3 tours to that continent with one of his favorite duties being “herding” the Adelie Penguins off the runway to protect them from landing aircraft.
After Antarctica he became an instructor at Millington Naval Air Base, where he and Jan happily welcomed their first child, a daughter named Diana in 1977. In 1979 Larry, assigned to the USS Independence, moved his family to Alabama where their beloved son David was born shortly after. Larry finished his career in the Navy touring the world on the Aircraft Carrier, The USS Independence. After retiring from the Navy in 1982 Larry worked for a government contracting company out of Talladega, remaining with that company until fully retiring in 2011.
As a father he was very present in his children’s lives. Along with being a scout leader to David’s boy scout troop he was also an active band parent to the Alexandria High School marching band that both of his children participated in. He was respected and loved by his kids, and they were eager to bring their friends into his home as he was consistently a source of information, entertaining stories, and jokes. His door was open, and he was always eager to give advice or cut up with all of them. Their friends knew him mostly by the name “Pops”. He enjoyed taking his family on camping trips and loved barrel racing, especially working with Salty, his quarter horse, who he had to share Fritos, bubble gum, and root beer with.
He loved every minute he got to spend with his granddaughters, Meghan and Peyton. He taught them how to fish on Barbie fishing poles when they were little. Then later, he bought them golf clubs to go hit buckets of balls together, in hopes that they would be as terrible at golf as he was. His love for his kids and their friends continued to his grandchildren where Meghan’s friend Nicole was also seen as family by him as a “granddaughter of the heart”.
He is preceded in Death by his parents, Willard D Gramling and Grace Grigsby Gramling. Surviving him, along with his wife Jan, Children Diana Brambley and David Gramling, and Grandchildren Meghan Brambley, Peyton Brambley, and Nicole York, Sisters, Jane Creel (Joe) and Carole Edwards (D-Tournay), and his Aunt Pat Grigsby Bowers (Bill)
Visitation will be on Saturday, March 1 at 1:00PM, with the Service following at 2:00PM at Gadsden Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where Larry was a devoted member, especially enjoying the men’s fellowship activities. He also enjoyed playing chef for the ladies of the church, making his famous Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Larry was a great light for those who knew him, and anytime a light that burns that bright is extinguished, those around them can feel the loss of warmth that it provided. He was a great man that will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made at the link provided below
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