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Larry Edward Denton

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Larry Edward Denton

Birth
Twin Falls, Twin Falls County, Idaho, USA
Death
28 Mar 2016 (aged 80)
Richland, Benton County, Washington, USA
Burial
Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, USA Add to Map
Plot
MV-90-9-58
Memorial ID
View Source
Accessed online @http://www.mountainview-colonialdewitt.com/obituaries/Larry-E-Denton?obId=845599#/obituaryInfo

On the evening of March 28, 2016 listening to the Mariners score a homerun
Larry Edward Denton opened his eyes gave his signature wink and left his earthly journey behind.

Larry Edward Denton was born on May 4, 1935 to Lawrence Charles Denton and Dorothy Mae (Fullmer) Denton in Twin Falls, Idaho. Larry’s parents divorced and the man he came to know as his Dad was Robert Henry Eutsler. Larry always felt like his Grandma and Grandpa were like a second pair of parents and called them Mom and Pop.

Larry grew up in the Twin Falls area during World War 2. This generation learned to fight and rebuild. He loved his Country and would talk Politics with you and what he believed. He was proud to be an American. He grew up with two sisters, Roberta (Bert) and Barbara. One of the things he loved was baseball and his favorite positions to play were short stop and pitcher. He was in the minor league, but due to hurting his arm he did not continue in baseball. He loved dogs and one day on his paper route brought home a puppy that he was told to take back the next day. The dog was given the name Taffy and lived a very long life continuing to live with his parents after he was married. He loved dogs but was partial to the German Shepherd and had numerous “Queenies.” At the age of 16 he had already developed a love for planes and worked at Reeder’s. He would come home from school and have a peanut butter and honey sandwich with his little sister Barbara before heading to work at Reeder’s. Larry said it was through the love of his Grandpa Denton he choose Aviation as a career. As his children we would watch him fly and he flew with such grace that it looked like the plane was dancing in air. Being his children you learned what a plane can do besides fly straight and landing. It was an adventure as he would do rolls in the air with us. Carnival rides were always a piece a cake after this. But he did have his share of airplane accidents, the first being in the canyon there in Twin Falls with his buddies as they chased deer with the plane.

He graduated from Twin Falls High School on May 21, 1953. His graduating class felt pretty special as they were the last class to graduate from the old 4 story building. After High School Larry continued working for Reeder’s and became a Crop Duster. In December of 1953 he married his first wife Nellie Madge Osler in Twin Falls, Idaho. He had four children from this marriage Joy, Mark, Helen and Larry. They later divorced. In 1959 he moved to Pullman, Washington to work as a crop duster. He worked for Pullman-Moscow Flying Service as an Instructor. He later worked for Sig Jorstad as a crop duster during the spring and fall months. During the summer months he would travel to Arizona to crop dust. In 1963 dad remarried Sally Lorian Gibbs. He added to his four children two more daughters Shellie and Barbara. In 1966 dad decide he needed a change and moved to Hawaii. Taking his wife Sally children Joy, Mark, Shellie and Barbara with him on this adventure. He flew for Murray Air as a crop duster on the Pineapple Plantations. He returned to the mainland for a short period of time in 1967 and during this time he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lewiston, Idaho. He worked for a short time there in the Lewiston/Clarkston area before returning to Hawaii in January of 1968. The day he flew from Seattle to Hawaii the snow was piled high in the streets of Walla Walla and trucks were jack-knifed off of the pass. He started this journey back with his daughter Joy and the family dog Taffy while the rest of the family stayed in Clarkston to sell their home. During his time in Hawaii he had a great spiritual growth in the Kailua 2nd Ward. He loved the Island people and fit in with his great big smile. He lost his signature Cigar when he joined the church so you could really see that smile of his. In Hawaii he had another accident that he was able to walk away from. Sally’s sister Roberta Clark moved to Hawaii and he became like a father to her four children Jo, Danny, Kendra, and Casey. He was like a father to many of his grandchildren. In 1971 a shipping strike was looming and he prayed about what to do as it would impact getting chemicals into the Islands and his ability to fly. It was decided we would move to Missoula, Montana to work for Johnston Air Service. There he worked as a Mechanic in the winter and flew on forest fires in the spring and summer flying B-26 and B-17’s. Dad was never a very big man in stature especially next to one of these planes. That is why he could never be an airline pilot. In the fall of 1973 he moved his family to Walla Walla, Washington with the hopes of buying into the business of Marsh Aviation. He worked for Dorsey Roth prior to Lee Moulton buying the Walla Walla portion of Marsh Aviation. In November of 1976 Larry crashed his plane in a wheat field in Touchet. It was his last pass of the day and he was on his way to see his son Mark graduate from Navy Boot Camp. He said even God would not keep him from that graduation. That accident was hard on his body and he suffered from the injuries the rest of his life. He later said God was greater than him. Larry purchased the Athena operation from Dorsey Roth and had the business at his passing. During his time in Athena he was divorced and remarried Darla Rae Clark in August of 1993 and added five more children Paul a step-son, Joseph, Seth, Samuel and Sarah. After his marriage to Darla the business name was changed to Wildhorse Aviation for a time but returned to its original name later. He also had Denton Aircraft which was a business he had for building planes. He built many beautiful planes during his lifetime and owned many planes as well. One of his planes is in a Museum. He won first place at the 1989Arlington Air Show for Antique Planes with his favorite plane, a Yellow and Blue Stearman. Again he can credit his Grandpa Denton for this passion as he purchased his first plane a TBM. During his years of flying he also restored cars and instructed students to learn the art of flying.

Through all the amazing events in his life he never lost his faith. He stumbled and fell as we all do who journey this path we call Life. His daughter Shellie asked him if he thought there was going to be a Resurrection and he said, “You Bet there will be!” We say good bye to a dear Father, Brother, Grandpa and Uncle. He is enjoying the reunion with his Mom, Dad, Grandmas, and Grandpas, Sister (Roberta), niece (Linda Flanders) and many more loved ones that waited for him on the other side of the veil. He said he was a visitor here on earth. He is now home free from the effects of age. He leaves behind his children, 27 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, 7 nephews and 2 nieces.

We would like to thank the staff of the ICU Unit, Kadlec Regional Hospital, Richland, Washington for their special treatment of dad and caring support to his family in his finally walk upon this earth. A viewing will be at Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt Funeral Home, 1551 The Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla, Washington, Sunday, April 3, 2016 from 9 am to 5 pm. The funeral is Monday, April 4, 2016 at 10:00 am at the LDS Church, 1821 S 2nd, Walla Walla, Washington. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.
Friends and family may share memories and sign the online guestbook at www.mountainview-colonialdewitt.com
Accessed online @http://www.mountainview-colonialdewitt.com/obituaries/Larry-E-Denton?obId=845599#/obituaryInfo

On the evening of March 28, 2016 listening to the Mariners score a homerun
Larry Edward Denton opened his eyes gave his signature wink and left his earthly journey behind.

Larry Edward Denton was born on May 4, 1935 to Lawrence Charles Denton and Dorothy Mae (Fullmer) Denton in Twin Falls, Idaho. Larry’s parents divorced and the man he came to know as his Dad was Robert Henry Eutsler. Larry always felt like his Grandma and Grandpa were like a second pair of parents and called them Mom and Pop.

Larry grew up in the Twin Falls area during World War 2. This generation learned to fight and rebuild. He loved his Country and would talk Politics with you and what he believed. He was proud to be an American. He grew up with two sisters, Roberta (Bert) and Barbara. One of the things he loved was baseball and his favorite positions to play were short stop and pitcher. He was in the minor league, but due to hurting his arm he did not continue in baseball. He loved dogs and one day on his paper route brought home a puppy that he was told to take back the next day. The dog was given the name Taffy and lived a very long life continuing to live with his parents after he was married. He loved dogs but was partial to the German Shepherd and had numerous “Queenies.” At the age of 16 he had already developed a love for planes and worked at Reeder’s. He would come home from school and have a peanut butter and honey sandwich with his little sister Barbara before heading to work at Reeder’s. Larry said it was through the love of his Grandpa Denton he choose Aviation as a career. As his children we would watch him fly and he flew with such grace that it looked like the plane was dancing in air. Being his children you learned what a plane can do besides fly straight and landing. It was an adventure as he would do rolls in the air with us. Carnival rides were always a piece a cake after this. But he did have his share of airplane accidents, the first being in the canyon there in Twin Falls with his buddies as they chased deer with the plane.

He graduated from Twin Falls High School on May 21, 1953. His graduating class felt pretty special as they were the last class to graduate from the old 4 story building. After High School Larry continued working for Reeder’s and became a Crop Duster. In December of 1953 he married his first wife Nellie Madge Osler in Twin Falls, Idaho. He had four children from this marriage Joy, Mark, Helen and Larry. They later divorced. In 1959 he moved to Pullman, Washington to work as a crop duster. He worked for Pullman-Moscow Flying Service as an Instructor. He later worked for Sig Jorstad as a crop duster during the spring and fall months. During the summer months he would travel to Arizona to crop dust. In 1963 dad remarried Sally Lorian Gibbs. He added to his four children two more daughters Shellie and Barbara. In 1966 dad decide he needed a change and moved to Hawaii. Taking his wife Sally children Joy, Mark, Shellie and Barbara with him on this adventure. He flew for Murray Air as a crop duster on the Pineapple Plantations. He returned to the mainland for a short period of time in 1967 and during this time he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lewiston, Idaho. He worked for a short time there in the Lewiston/Clarkston area before returning to Hawaii in January of 1968. The day he flew from Seattle to Hawaii the snow was piled high in the streets of Walla Walla and trucks were jack-knifed off of the pass. He started this journey back with his daughter Joy and the family dog Taffy while the rest of the family stayed in Clarkston to sell their home. During his time in Hawaii he had a great spiritual growth in the Kailua 2nd Ward. He loved the Island people and fit in with his great big smile. He lost his signature Cigar when he joined the church so you could really see that smile of his. In Hawaii he had another accident that he was able to walk away from. Sally’s sister Roberta Clark moved to Hawaii and he became like a father to her four children Jo, Danny, Kendra, and Casey. He was like a father to many of his grandchildren. In 1971 a shipping strike was looming and he prayed about what to do as it would impact getting chemicals into the Islands and his ability to fly. It was decided we would move to Missoula, Montana to work for Johnston Air Service. There he worked as a Mechanic in the winter and flew on forest fires in the spring and summer flying B-26 and B-17’s. Dad was never a very big man in stature especially next to one of these planes. That is why he could never be an airline pilot. In the fall of 1973 he moved his family to Walla Walla, Washington with the hopes of buying into the business of Marsh Aviation. He worked for Dorsey Roth prior to Lee Moulton buying the Walla Walla portion of Marsh Aviation. In November of 1976 Larry crashed his plane in a wheat field in Touchet. It was his last pass of the day and he was on his way to see his son Mark graduate from Navy Boot Camp. He said even God would not keep him from that graduation. That accident was hard on his body and he suffered from the injuries the rest of his life. He later said God was greater than him. Larry purchased the Athena operation from Dorsey Roth and had the business at his passing. During his time in Athena he was divorced and remarried Darla Rae Clark in August of 1993 and added five more children Paul a step-son, Joseph, Seth, Samuel and Sarah. After his marriage to Darla the business name was changed to Wildhorse Aviation for a time but returned to its original name later. He also had Denton Aircraft which was a business he had for building planes. He built many beautiful planes during his lifetime and owned many planes as well. One of his planes is in a Museum. He won first place at the 1989Arlington Air Show for Antique Planes with his favorite plane, a Yellow and Blue Stearman. Again he can credit his Grandpa Denton for this passion as he purchased his first plane a TBM. During his years of flying he also restored cars and instructed students to learn the art of flying.

Through all the amazing events in his life he never lost his faith. He stumbled and fell as we all do who journey this path we call Life. His daughter Shellie asked him if he thought there was going to be a Resurrection and he said, “You Bet there will be!” We say good bye to a dear Father, Brother, Grandpa and Uncle. He is enjoying the reunion with his Mom, Dad, Grandmas, and Grandpas, Sister (Roberta), niece (Linda Flanders) and many more loved ones that waited for him on the other side of the veil. He said he was a visitor here on earth. He is now home free from the effects of age. He leaves behind his children, 27 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, 7 nephews and 2 nieces.

We would like to thank the staff of the ICU Unit, Kadlec Regional Hospital, Richland, Washington for their special treatment of dad and caring support to his family in his finally walk upon this earth. A viewing will be at Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt Funeral Home, 1551 The Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla, Washington, Sunday, April 3, 2016 from 9 am to 5 pm. The funeral is Monday, April 4, 2016 at 10:00 am at the LDS Church, 1821 S 2nd, Walla Walla, Washington. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.
Friends and family may share memories and sign the online guestbook at www.mountainview-colonialdewitt.com


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