Larry Alonzo Kunze

Larry Alonzo Kunze lost his two-year fight to cancer as he peacefully passed away in his sleep, in the same hospital where he was born 83 years ago, in Orlando, Florida, on July 21, 2024, at the age of 83, with his wife of 62 years by his side.

He is survived by his wife Nancy, daughter Patricia Tatum, son-in-law Robert Tatum, brother Michael Kunze, sister-in-law Patricia Kunze, brother-in-law Allen Crews, sister-in-law Rhonda Swenson Crews, brother-in-law Randall Crews, and sister-in-law Susan Crews. He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Edna Kunze.

Larry was born on January 26, 1941, in Orlando, Florida, and he went on to graduate from Boone High School in 1959 and Rollins College in 1971. He enjoyed an idyllic childhood in old Florida playing outside with his friends. As a teen, he played trumpet in the marching band and worked as a lifeguard at the Cherry Plaza Hotel. In 1962, he married his high school sweetheart at a ceremony in Trinity Lutheran Church. For 33 years, Larry had a wonderful career working for Orlando Utilities Commission in the Electrical Engineering Department, first as a draftsman and later on as an overhead project designer.

After retiring on March 1, 1995, Larry and Nancy enjoyed traveling around the southeast United States with a small trailer before discovering their summer home in the Avery County area of the North Carolina mountains. They helped to build their own cabin in Linville Land Harbor, where Larry had many friends and enjoyed fun dinner get-togethers. In the winter, he enjoyed time at the beach in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where his daughter and son-in-law live.

Larry was an avid sports fan and enjoyed attending Rollins College basketball and baseball games, and he also enjoyed watching sports on TV – his favorites were football, auto racing and Japanese sumo wrestling. Going out to listen to live music, especially to hear Sound Traveler play, was one of his favorite things to do. Food was always an important part of his life; whether it was planning meals, shopping for groceries, cooking, eating, looking for snacks, chatting about food, or thinking about his next meal, he was all in. And he was also quite the world traveler, as Larry had the opportunity to travel to Japan, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada’s Niagara Falls, Alaska, and all over the western United States. Although he enjoyed it all, he especially felt at home in the Blue Ridge mountains.

He will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, father-in-law, brother, and friend who lived with grace and dignity until the end of his earthly life. Larry loved his family so fiercely and did his best to stay here for as long as he could.

The family would like to thank the many people who helped and supported them over the past two years.

A graveside service will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha, Florida, at 10:00 AM on July 30, 2024. Graveside services will be followed by a Celebration of Life service at Trinity Lutheran Church, 123 E. Livingston Street, Orlando, Florida, at 11:30 AM. A luncheon will take place in the church fellowship hall immediately after the service. All are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the World Central Kitchen (wck.org) or your favorite local food bank in Larry’s name.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV): I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.