Larry Vern Lindley, 87, Franklin, Texas, formerly a long time resident of Caldwell, Texas, died on April 1, 2010 at St Joseph Manor in Bryan, Texas following a lengthy illness. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on April 17, 2010 at the Hix Cemetery located approximately 10 miles North of Highway 21 East on FM 2000 in Burleson County.
Larry was born on February 7, 1923 in Hamlin, Texas. He was raised in Mertzon, Texas and graduated high school there in 1940. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1958 with a BBA and remained a proud Longhorn throughout his life.
Larry was a procurement specialist in the U.S. Air Force and was recognized as an officer who could organize and get things done. He believed the highlight of his military career occurred between July 1948 and August 1949 when he played a key procurement role at Camp Lindsey in Wiesbaden, Germany during the Berlin Airlift. Being an orphan himself, he took time to find an orphanage near Wiesbaden and took food to the war orphans who were in a desperate situation. He happened to visit on “wash day” when the children’s only set of clothes were being washed and they were confined to their beds. Larry wrote his home town newspaper in San Angelo, Texas and told them of the need and asked for the San Angelo community to donate clothes for these children. The people of San Angelo warmly responded to Larry’s plea and donated large amounts of clothes. Being a procurement specialist, Larry made the arrangements to get the much needed clothing to Germany and to the children.
Larry retired as a Major and moved on to his civil service career as a procurement officer for NASA. He served NASA during the Gemini Program through the Apollo 17 mission. He was privileged to have known all the astronauts for those missions and had a special relationship with his next door neighbor Jim Lovell, Mission Commander for the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. It was this aborted mission and crisis that led to the highlight of Larry’s NASA career; his appointment as the procurement officer for the investigative team that examined the causes of this near tragedy. He was recognized by NASA and awarded a certificate of merit for his contributions. He retired from NASA in 1974 and moved to Caldwell, Texas where he lived for the final 36 years of his life.
Following retirement, he turned his skills and “get’er done” attitude to improving Burleson County. He vigorously participated in community affairs and always encouraged positive change. The taxpayers and residents of Burleson County today are indebted to Larry for his vision and enthusiastic support of taxpayer-friendly positions over the years.
He was an avid golfer and regular at Copperas Hollow Country Club in Caldwell where he scored multiple holes-in-one. He loved country music and taught himself to play the fiddle, the accordion and the piano. He was instrumental in organizing and executing a very successful plan that put the struggling VFW post # 4458 in Caldwell on sound financial footing and made them debt free. Part of his plan was the formation of the Semi-Live Band to play for free Saturday night dances and Music Nights at the post mostly on Wednesday evenings. These events always drew a full house. Semi-Live did the Valentine’s party at the local nursing home for years and established a tradition that is carried on today by other bands. The very successful Pre-Fest Party associated with the Kolache Festival in Caldwell got its start at the VFW. Everyone gathered after working on Friday evening for soup, Kolaches and beer, and to listen and dance to Semi-Live practicing for the festival. Many things would be different in Burleson County had Larry not put his roots down there. He lived life to the fullest and wanted to be remembered by the motto: “He really tried.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Mittie Lue Gamblin Lindley; his loving wife of almost 30 years, Ann Anderson Lindley; his siblings; his son, Larry V. Lindley, Jr. better known as Dusty; his granddaughter, Traci Dawn Lindley; and his former wives and the mothers of his children, Odessa Lemons Lindley and Delores Smith Lindley.
Larry is survived by: Rebecca McLendon, his daughter by Odessa, and her children; Regina Malcom, Michael McLendon, Kelly McLendon and Gary Medders. He is also survived by his daughter, Jan McDonald, and son, Kim Howard Lindley, his children by Delores Smith Lindley, and Kim’s children; Angelica Marie Lindley-Eaton, Casandra Nicole Lindley and Casey James Lindley. He is also survived by Diane Miller, his step-daughter and dear friends Jack and Judy Hollenshead. He was blessed with seven great grandchildren and one great, great-grandchild.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Boy Scouts of America.
…can’t believe no one has left anything in here, can’t change the past just can’t understand why he had to go out like this, the people soon to “benefit” from his death should at least make some kind of effort to act like they’ll appreciate whatever they get.
I just hope my Dad has found a way to be at peace with himself, finally, that’s all I hope for, and will pray for, this is so sad~
I have great memories of Larry and his belated wife Ann. Their beautiful home outside of Caldwell TX. Larry playing the fiddle in a county western band at the VFW hall in Caldwell Texas. His service to the people of Caldwell, TX and war veterans at the VFW Hall.
Larry also worked at NASA Johnson Space Center during Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. He was friends with Lieutenant General Thomas Stafford who was the commander on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). I have good and warm memories of Larry
I remember Larry as being a very kind and generous man. Many years before he married his last wife, we bought his farm near Caldwell. He was always around helping us with the yard and land and was kind to my children. He was a great dancer and loved music. He was a dear family friend. We spoke many years ago and again about six months before his death. I hope our talks made him feel better since he was so sick. He was a man who helped many. He was indeed a southern gentleman. I won’t forget him and the kindness he showed my family.
So sorry to hear of the loss of your loved one. To lose someone at any age is hard and the time spent with them always feels so short. Death is certainly something we will never accept or get use to. The Bible gives us hope that one day we can see our dear loved ones again. On behalf of all mankind, Jesus surrender his soul for us, John 15:13. And because of that sacrifice we have the promise of a resurrection, John 5:28, “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” May you find hope and comfort in those promises and in the good memories you have.
My first visit in here there was nothing, now this one is to the poisoned minds that allowed the mis-information about my brother and mom to be ran in the obits, my brother’s name is Larry James Lindley, not L.V Lindley Jr., and the woman who stood by LV for richer or poorer, the woman who endured the constant travel while raising his kids (the ones he claimed) no matter where his service took him, and a lady who gives the word “class” a new definition, Martha Delores Smith Lindley, is much more than just a former wife…had to clean this up.
I knew Larry from 1968 until his passing. I was his son-in-law for 7 years. I was married to his daughter Jane. Jan and I have a son, Ryan Lindley McDonald. Unless his first daughter had children before 1972 Ryan would be larry’s first grandson. Larry and I spent many days hunting,fishing, bike riding and raceing,together. Larry had his second heart attack after riding in a seniors motocross race at Cloverfield Track in Friends. I gave larry mouth to mouth and help save his life,that day. Later at the hospital he whispered,you bit my blank tongue. The best job I ever had was working in the Lunar Receiving Lab,at NASA, Larry got it for me. Larry and I were very close until time,distance and both of us becomming very ill,seperated us. I know Ann from the good old Yellow Rose days. We had good times eating under the big tree at the white house. When Larry would play his violin or fiddle, as he called it, the coyotes would join him in song. Larry was a real man. God bless you all with the best of life.