Larry Dickmon

A man who has been described as larger than life, Lawrence Dickmon leaves behind a deeply embedded footprint that will remain in the sands of time for generations to come. Perhaps it was his outgoing and sparkling personality that made him so much fun to be around, but all who knew him would agree that he brought a room to life. Lawrence was a devoted father, but he was a bit of a pushover when it came to his grandchildren as spoiling them was one of his favorite activities. A man of great honor, strength, and courage, Lawrence’s legacy will remain alive and well in the generations who follow him.

The Roaring Twenties were a colorful time in America when innovation fueled changes in both the business and industrial sectors that were taking us places we have never been. There were over 500 commercial radio stations that brought us the news of the day, and we celebrated the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial and the successes in the world of flight through both Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh. Nestled within this vibrant time was the year 1922 that boasted of great joy for one young family from Kalamazoo, Michigan, as they were pleased to welcome a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on September 22nd. Baby Larry was the youngest child born to his parents, Joseph and Julia (VonSecoulendt) Dickmon. He was raised solely by his mother as she was on her own until she married Charles Clelland who served as Lawrence’s father figure.

As the prosperity of the twenties gave way to the Great Depression of the thirties, countless American families endured great hardship, and Lawrence’s family was no exception. He cut lawns for a dime and a cookie to help bring added income into the family. Larry had fun, too, and one of his favorite activities was swimming in the Kalamazoo River. He attended local schools including Kalamazoo Central where he played catcher on the school’s baseball team. He liked taking drafting classes and also worked at the Kalamazoo Creamery to help support the family in addition to holding down his studies.

Right after he graduated from high school in December of 1941, Lawrence enlisted in the Army. The only reason he hadn’t signed up earlier was because his stepfather insisted that he finished his schooling first. Although Larry wasn’t thrilled about waiting, he respected his stepfather’s wishes. During his time in the service he was mainly in Europe. Larry drove a truck in an engineering battalion and was part of rebuilding roads and bridges that were destroyed. The first action he saw was during the Battle of the Bulge.

Life was forever changed when Larry met the woman with whom he would share a lifetime of love. Her name was Neva Leatherwood and they met at a bowling alley in Fort Worth, Texas. There was an immediate attraction between them that neither could deny, and they exchanged information. Deeply in love, the couple was married on July 31, 1945, in Kalamazoo while Larry was home for training. The war ended soon after, and he returned home to his bride.

As a young husband Larry went back to work at the Kalamazoo Creamery, and he and Neva started their family right away. Together they were blessed with three children: Mary Ann, Karen, and John. In order to support his family Larry did some estimates and drawings at Valley Metal for a few years. He then did some drawings for Richard Prince and Associates and then for a few other architectural firms in town as well. Larry also did some work from home, too. His work mainly focused on schools, including Loy Norrix, and he was able to retire when he was 60 after a successful career as an architectural draftsman.

Although Larry was willing to work hard, he liked to pursue his interests as well. One of his favorite activities was golfing, especially on the courses at both Eastern Hills and Milham Park. Larry was part of several leagues through the years and had a hole-in-one on three separate occasions. He also loved to mow his lawn to keep it in tip top shape, and it certainly was the envy of the neighborhood. Larry had close to one-and-a-half acres to mow so he was usually out there every day. In fact, most days found him getting up early to head out on the links and then back home in the afternoon to mow. Larry liked hunting both pheasant and deer, and he also did some fishing with his son. He knew his way around the kitchen and enjoyed cooking, and he took on most of the responsibilities in the kitchen, with the shopping, and with the laundry when he retired as Neva was still working for a time. When it came to music Larry was a fan of the big band music from his youth, and during their younger years he and Neva enjoyed dancing together.

When grandchildren joined the family Larry couldn’t have been happier as spending time with them quickly became a favorite activity, and as a grandfather he was a bit of a softie. His grandchildren loved when he let them get in the cars and pretend to drive, and Larry always made sure they had plenty of ice cream cones, too. He also regularly made them s’mores in the microwave, making sure to let the marshmallows get huge before squishing them with the chocolate. Additionally, there was always a hidden stash of candy ready for whenever Larry’s grandchildren stopped by.

Life was not without times of struggle for Larry. He began dealing with heart problems in his forties, and the last 12 years or so he was showing signs of dementia.

There were so many things we loved about Lawrence Dickmon. He was very resourceful and a jack of all trades who was not afraid to tackle anything. Larry loved being at home and took great pride in his yard, yet nothing was better in his book than being surrounded by his loved ones. A true patriot, devoted husband, and loving father and grandfather, Larry will be deeply missed.

Lawrence Dickmon died on December 7, 2011, at his home. Larry’s family includes his wife, Neva Dickmon; 3 children: Mary Ann (Fred) Root, Karen (Richard) Amsbury and John (Melinda) Dickmon; 4 grandchildren: Jodie (David) Veenhuis, Julie (Bryan) Voss, Brianna and Maeve Dickmon; 2 great-grandchildren: Emily and Evan Veenhuis; and many nieces and nephews. Larry was preceded in death by 5 siblings: Dorothy, Leona, Wellington “Bud,” Harold, and Noel. Learn more about Larry, view his Life Story film, and share in some refreshments with his family and friends on Monday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler – Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Dr., 375-2900 where services will be held Tuesday 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow in the Life Story Center. Burial will take place at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Please visit Larry’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo or sign his memory book. Memorial donations may be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.