Larry Gene Willey

Estes Park resident Larry Willey died at his home on October 27, 2015. Larry Gene Willey was born the only child to Clyde and Helen (Anspach) Willey on June 29, 1938 in Newark, Ohio. He grew up and attended school in Mansfield, OH. On December 27, 1959 Larry married Marlene Kathryn Lash in Willard, OH. They resided in both Ohio and Iowa for many years. Larry Graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville, OH in 1960 before attending the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. He later received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. He was ordained in the Evangelical United Brethren Church and served as a minister in the EUB as well as the United Methodist Church. Larry was also a Professor of American History and Chaplain for Westmar College in Le Mars, IA. After retiring, Larry and Marlene moved to Estes Park, CO in 2000 where he continued to serve as an interim minister for a couple churches in Colorado, and at the suggestion of his daughters to get him out of the house, he served as the spiritual advisor or Emmaeus Walks. He was very active in all the churches he served and attended, including singing in the choir, and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Estes Park. Larry volunteered for Crossroad Ministries, happily donated blood to the American Red Cross and loved hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. He also enjoyed genealogy, collecting coins, and studying WWII history, as well as Civil War and Reconstruction history, especially the Underground Rail-Road, which was a part of his dissertation. Larry is survived by his daughters, Linda Willey of Fishkill, New York and Laura Willey of Brooklyn, New York. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Michaela and Alex Foster. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Helen, his wife Marlene and three sons. A Celebration of Life will be held at the United Methodist Church of Estes Park on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 11:00 AM. Memorial Contributions may be made in Larry’s name to the United Methodist Church of Estes Park or to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 1302 Graves Ave. Estes Park, CO 80517.