Larry Lee Fruit, Sr

Larry Lee Fruit, Sr. was an extraordinary man who brought such happiness to those around him through his positive attitude, his never-ending smile, and his fun-loving spirit. He was a devoted family man if ever there was one, and there was nothing that filled his heart with joy like having a grandchild in his lap. Larry was accompanied by an impeccable work ethic, and his willingness to go over and above what was expected was an inspiration to those around him. A man who was content in all things, he fully embraced both the peaks and valleys along his life’s journey, and he never let anything ruffle his feathers. With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Larry created a priceless collection of memories that will remain a lasting treasure in the hearts and lives of all who were blessed to know and love him.

The 1930s were very much defined by the hardship of the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce, the unemployment rate soared, and countless American families lost their homes. As the decade was drawing to a close, we witnessed what had become the beginning phases of WWII overseas. It was also during the end of this decade that a young couple from pierceton, Indiana, was eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby. The big day arrived when the baby boy they named Larry Lee was born on February 13, 1939. He was the oldest of six children in his family, and he was raised in the family home alongside his siblings. As the oldest of the Fruit bunch, Larry was kind of like a father figure to his younger siblings since there was such a large age gap between some of them.

In many ways Larry was a young boy of his generation. He learned to play the guitar when just a young boy, and he loved music throughout his life. Larry’s favorite radio station while growing up was WOWO, which played rock music. His father worked as a truck driver, and at times Larry rode along with him. As he became a teen he was known to get into his fair share of mischief at times such as the night he took his parents’ car to go to his girlfriend’s house. This may not have been such a big deal, except that his mother went into labor so his parents had to take the semi to the hospital! Larry attended local schools, but he dropped out of school during the 11th grade to join the Marines. He and his buddy signed up together, but Larry was left on his own to fulfill his obligation when his buddy failed the physical test. The military gave him the discipline he needed to become a great father a bit later on.

New and exciting changes were in store for Larry when he met the young woman who captured his heart as a young man. Her name was Jan, and sparks flew right from the start. After falling deeply in love, Larry and Jan were married on February 27, 1960. Together they welcomed three children, Larry Jr., Randy and Rob, into their hearts and home. Being a father was a role that Larry took to heart, and he was there to support his sons in everything they did. He never judged them, encouraged them, and loved them without condition. Larry was an active part of their lives, too, and for years he coached their baseball teams. He was deeply saddened with Jan’s death in June of 1992.

A bit later Larry was blessed to find love again with Rosemary. They were married on October 9, 1993, and they shared 21 wonderful years together. Larry and Rosemary enjoyed so many things during their sunset years including watching their families grow. He loved being a grandfather, and when with his family Larry was rarely seen without a grandchild in his lap. He was there to support them in all their events and activities, and he was their biggest cheerleader. Larry was also willing to let his granddaughter fix his hair. Some of Larry’s favorite moments were on Thanksgiving and Christmas since it was a time that everyone always gathered together.

Throughout his life Larry was a man of many interests. He did some traveling including trips to Hawaii and Germany with Jan as well as a trip to Alaska with Rosemary. Larry traveled to Rhode Island when Randy returned from his first deployment, and he also visited casinos across the country. He played golf and bowled for years, and he was also part of various card clubs. Even at home Larry kept busy as he liked working on puzzles, doing crossword puzzles, or reading biographies of sports figures or other people he admired like Johnny Cash. He was a fan of both the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings, and he enjoyed watching baseball and football as well as Jeopardy and Family Feud. Larry was a creature of habit who liked his coffee for breakfast and his late night snack, and he never met an Oreo that he didn’t like.

All who knew Larry Lee Fruit, Sr. would agree that he was a blessing in the lives of everyone he met. He could be goofy at times as he enjoyed making sure that the people around him loved life as much as he did. If someone needed help, Larry was there in ways both great and small. The sort of person whom everyone seemed to know, he will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Larry Lee Fruit, Sr died on February16, 2015. Larry’s family includes his wife, Rosemary; children, Larry Jr, Randy, and Rob; stepdaughter, Michelle Crynick; 8 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren with one more on the way; and 5 siblings. Larry was preceded in death by his first wife, Jan; grandson, Christopher ”CJ;” and stepson, Michael Corey. Family will receive friends at Neely-Turowski Life Story Funeral Home 45100 Warren Road, Canton, (btwn Sheldon and Canton Ctr Rds) Friday 1-9 p.m. & Saturday 11-1 p.m., where a funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday. To leave online condolences or to sign the online guest book go to www.turowskilifestory.com.