Larry was born in Ft. Myers, FL to Ralph and Mozelle Echols. Larry is a true native of FL having been born in Ft. Myers, reared in Everglades City, Clewiston and Naples. He graduated from Naples High School in 1958. Larry earned two degrees from the University of FL including the Juris Doctor degree with honors in the University Of Florida College Of Law. Larry served in the US Army in Germany from 1962-1965 as an avionics technician. Early in his career he was a research assistant at the University Law Library, and a law clerk for a Miami tax law firm. Since 1969, he maintained a law practice at Ft. Myers Beach until he retired in 2012. He was a board member of the University of Florida law review and holds memberships in several honorary legal societies: honor society of Phi Kappa Phi; Florida Chapter of the Order of the Coif, the national honorary legal society for those within the top ten of their graduating class; Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity, which awarded him the University of Florida Chapter Outstanding Achievement Award in 1967. Larry practiced Real Property Law; Wills, Estates and Estate Planning and Coporate and Business Law.
Larry was also active in several legal and professional organizations and an officer in many community groups. He is a Rotary Club past president having been a member of the Ft. Myers Beach club prior to joining the Bonita Springs Rotary in 1995. He has a number of Rotary accomplishments to his credit including sponsorship of Rotary International exchange programs.
When not doing legal work Larry enjoyed fishing, boating, gardening and photography. He and his wife treasured their second home in Ligonier, Pa. Larry and his wife Mary attended Naples Christian Church.
Larry is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Mary Ackerman Echols; brother Ronald J. Echols and sister- in-law Mary W. Echols. He is also survived by his niece Katie Grimes, nephew James Echols, three grandnieces and many cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Service of Remembrance on Friday, March 22 at 11:00am at Hodges Funeral at Naples Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in Larry’s name to Love a Child, Inc. (Haiti) P.O. Box 60063, Ft. Myers., 33906-9889 or Naples Christian Church, 8000 Goodlette Road, Naples, FL 34109.
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