Obituary for Larry M. "Red" Waters
Larry M. “Red” Waters, 75, of New Haven, Indiana, passed away at home on Saturday, August 5, 2023.
Larry, the eldest son and one of six children, was born on February 2, 1948, to Orville and Marjorie (Rice) Waters in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Known for raising Cain on the north side of Fort Wayne (and, if we’re being honest, the surrounding 20-mile radius) with his brothers and his cousins early on in life, Larry also held down several jobs, notably working at the White Swan Grocery Store where he would come to know his bride of 55 years, Sandy.
In 1966, he graduated from North Side High School and following in his dad’s footsteps, started working at the International Harvester that same year. Larry was drafted into the service in 1968 and completed basic training at Fort Campbell. That same year he was sent to Vietnam where he served in the 11th Armored Blackhorse Calvary Regiment. During his time in Nam, he earned a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman Badge and forged indescribable bonds with a core group of brave men. His tour of duty brought him home in 1969, and he returned to work at the International Harvester that same year. Welcome home, Brother.
Larry retired from the International Harvester in 2001 and became quite handy with a set of golf clubs in his retirement. Throughout his life, he enjoyed spending time in his vegetable garden, and he truly, truly loved to mow grass. He also enjoyed traveling over the years, and with Sandy by his side, was able to visit 48 states in our great nation. He had plans to set off on another travel adventure this fall; but sadly, a staggering cancer recurrence made this impossible.
Devoted to his family and friends, Larry was fierce, resourceful, loyal, patriotic, tough, and one of the hardest working men you could ever meet. If he knew you, and more importantly, if he liked you, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to help you: That’s just the type of man he was.
Larry is survived by his loving wife Sandra (Meyers) Waters; children, Lori (Eric) Strebig, Dan (Jennifer) Waters, and Lisa (Jason) Schwendenmann; granddaughters, Lily Waters, Emma Waters, and CJ Schwendenmann; sister, Beverly Mozena; two brothers: Terry Waters and Randy Waters; brother-in-law, Jim Kester; brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Sue Duncan; sister-in-law, Jan Meyers; and many more family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Marilyn Kester; his brother, Geary Waters; his father and mother-in-law, Ed and Alice Meyers; and his brothers-in-law, Carl Mozena and John Meyers.
Funeral service for Larry will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, August 11, 2023, at Fairhaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services (6557 N. Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46825) with calling from 10:00 am until the service. A funeral luncheon will follow. Calling also from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at the funeral home. Burial with full military honors at Highland Park Cemetery will occur at a later date. Memorials may be made to Cancer Services of NE Indiana.
Larry, the eldest son and one of six children, was born on February 2, 1948, to Orville and Marjorie (Rice) Waters in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Known for raising Cain on the north side of Fort Wayne (and, if we’re being honest, the surrounding 20-mile radius) with his brothers and his cousins early on in life, Larry also held down several jobs, notably working at the White Swan Grocery Store where he would come to know his bride of 55 years, Sandy.
In 1966, he graduated from North Side High School and following in his dad’s footsteps, started working at the International Harvester that same year. Larry was drafted into the service in 1968 and completed basic training at Fort Campbell. That same year he was sent to Vietnam where he served in the 11th Armored Blackhorse Calvary Regiment. During his time in Nam, he earned a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman Badge and forged indescribable bonds with a core group of brave men. His tour of duty brought him home in 1969, and he returned to work at the International Harvester that same year. Welcome home, Brother.
Larry retired from the International Harvester in 2001 and became quite handy with a set of golf clubs in his retirement. Throughout his life, he enjoyed spending time in his vegetable garden, and he truly, truly loved to mow grass. He also enjoyed traveling over the years, and with Sandy by his side, was able to visit 48 states in our great nation. He had plans to set off on another travel adventure this fall; but sadly, a staggering cancer recurrence made this impossible.
Devoted to his family and friends, Larry was fierce, resourceful, loyal, patriotic, tough, and one of the hardest working men you could ever meet. If he knew you, and more importantly, if he liked you, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to help you: That’s just the type of man he was.
Larry is survived by his loving wife Sandra (Meyers) Waters; children, Lori (Eric) Strebig, Dan (Jennifer) Waters, and Lisa (Jason) Schwendenmann; granddaughters, Lily Waters, Emma Waters, and CJ Schwendenmann; sister, Beverly Mozena; two brothers: Terry Waters and Randy Waters; brother-in-law, Jim Kester; brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Sue Duncan; sister-in-law, Jan Meyers; and many more family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Marilyn Kester; his brother, Geary Waters; his father and mother-in-law, Ed and Alice Meyers; and his brothers-in-law, Carl Mozena and John Meyers.
Funeral service for Larry will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, August 11, 2023, at Fairhaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services (6557 N. Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46825) with calling from 10:00 am until the service. A funeral luncheon will follow. Calling also from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at the funeral home. Burial with full military honors at Highland Park Cemetery will occur at a later date. Memorials may be made to Cancer Services of NE Indiana.