Larry Eugene McGraw
August 23, 1937 - June 09, 2024
- Share:
Larry Eugene McGraw
August 23, 1937 - June 09, 2024
Obituary
Larry McGraw
(1937 – 2024)
Larry Eugene McGraw, age 86, of Tustin, California, died of esophageal/stomach cancer at his home in the loving presence of family on June 9, 2024. He was born on August 23, 1937, in Salem, Illinois, to Gaither and Margaret Ethel (Brown) McGraw, and was the eldest in a blended family of 4 younger brothers – Richard, Mike, Ted, and Terry.
Larry attended Salem High School, before studying engineering at Bradley University and obtaining a B.E. degree in 1959. He lived in many places around the USA, and his amazing engineering knowledge and skills were employed by a number of engineering firms, traveling all around the world, for projects ranging from nuclear, plastics, mining, naval, oil, and others. There never seemed to be an engineered item that he didn’t know something about. After retiring, he provided computer services locally in the Los Angeles area through his own company. His beaming smile could be found on his motorcycle when touring the west; in cafes with his many friends; and most of all, when he was with his devoted family.
Larry was preceded in death by brothers Richard Holden, Ted Holden, and Terry Wright. He is survived by his brother, Mike (Janice) McGraw; his children, Kathleen McGraw, Duncan (Christine) McGraw, and Mitchell (Cynthia) Zeissler; two grandchildren Maia McGraw and Amy McGraw; nieces and nephews.
As Larry often said, “Life is too short for bad pizza”.
Per Larry’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial. Instead, donation to Save the Redwoods League would be appreciated. https://secure.savetheredwoods.org/a/donate
3 responses to Larry Eugene McGraw
Roy and Wendy Poston says:
June 19, 2024
We are sorry for your loss of such a wonderful man.
Betty Farrell Scruggs says:
June 26, 2024
I met Larry 38 years ago in an ACA Workshop. We became a “family” with two other people. When our 26-week workshop ended, we continued, meeting every week for dinner, sharing, and support. We became brothers and sisters, caring for each other all these years. Larry became the older brother I had prayed for as a child. He was kind, thoughtful, patient, generous, and filled with gratitude. He often related something that occurred during the week that he was grateful for. We, in our ACA family, will always be grateful for Larry.
During the COVID shutdown, when restaurants were closed for dining in, Larry and I tailgated every Thursday night, through the cold winter, until restaurants opened up again. When COVID vaccines became available, he would ferry some of his non-driving customers to the vaccine sites to get their shots (kindness and generosity). He organized a group of us who loved Shakespeare, and we met through the summer months to enjoy the Bard’s performances.
We knew how much he loved his children, daughters-in-law, and his granddaughters. He spoke of their accomplishments often (bragging, really), and he was grateful for their love for him.
Larry, and all his family, are in my and my husband’s prayers. He has left a hole in my heart. A wonderful father, grandfather, brother and friend.
Betty Farrell Scruggs
Mitch Zeissler says:
July 17, 2024
Thank you for your wonderfully kind words, they mean the world to me