Larry was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1928 and joined the US Navy Seabees out of high school and served our country in several foreign countries. After his discharge, he worked for General Electric where he met his future bride, Lois Smith, and was married in 1955. After vacationing to Orlando, Larry and Lois decided to pack up their belongings and move to sunny Orlando in 1956.
Larry was a Captain of the Orlando Police Reserves followed by several years as an Orange County Deputy Sheriff. Larry pursued his love for woodworking and eventually made it his career with Heffner Cabinet & Millwork (currently owned by his son, Doug).
Larry (and his now deceased wife, Lois) were members of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, almost from the time it was chartered, and served as a Deacon, Elder, and Youth Advisor to 40+ youth over 7 years with many stories to be told of retreats, service projects, and contemporary services. Larry was also on the building committee for the new church building which opened in 1974. Much later, Larry moved his membership to Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church.
Larry met Margie Mathews Guinn at a senior outing with St. Stephen Presbyterian Church and were married in March 1995 in Reno, NV. Margie recruited Dad to join the square and round dancers at Whirl and Twirl and dosey doe'd for many, many years until his health would not allow it, but he continued to make remarkable decorations, including a working train and time machine that were used at conventions. Larry was with Whirl & Twirl for 23 years, up until their 2019 Thanksgiving gathering. Larry and Margie loved to travel from the mountains of North Carolina, to the flowery islands of Hawaii.
The patriarch of a cornucopia of Heffners, Roberts, and Weatherholts spent sunny summer days around the pool and barbecues. Grandchildren and youth group members competing for the biggest splash off the diving board or seeing who could hold their breath the longest in the shallow end of the pool. Then relaxing on red and orange or blue and green shag carpet in the castle of a house that he built.
Larry always had a joke, or a funny face, or a comment to bring the house to a state of laughter. There was never a bad mood when he was around. Even when death creeped closer, the carpenter continued to chisel out one liners that would make anyone smile.
At his passing, Larry is survived by wife, Margie, 3 children, Paula Weatherholt, Lory Heffner, Dawna Heffner (deceased), and Douglas Heffner (Brenda), 7 grandchildren, Nathan Weatherholt (HyoJung), Greg Roberts (Kelsey), Carl Weatherholt, Valerie Akers (Patrick), Jennifer Dow (Peter), Nadine Collazo (Carlos), and Wendy Farrington (Kevin), and 8 great-grandchildren (Kason, Heidi, Brooke, Meagan, Holly, Lauren, Dylan and Addison.)
Graveside Interment Service is Friday, 1/24/20 at 10am at Glen Haven Memorial Park, 2300 Temple Drive, Winter Park 32789 (at the Mausoleum near the office). It will include Military Honors rendered by the US Navy to include the flag presentation and trumpet solo of Taps. This service is open to all who wish to attend.
The "Celebration of New Life" service is Saturday, 2/1/20 at 2pm at Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church, 3600 Aloma Ave, Oviedo 32765 with reception to follow in fellowship hall. This service is open to all who wish to attend. Bright colors are the attire for this service! Larry loved Hawaiian themed events.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to be made to the Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church, earmarked "Memorial Garden".
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5