Lawrence "Larry" German

“I want people to know me for what I believe, for what I profess, for what I do—“ Lawrence L. German. A life of achievement and service ended August 18, when Lawrence L. (Larry) German died at age 90 in Columbus, Ohio. Born February 8, 1920 in River Rouge, Michigan, German earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1941. His extensive professional career included positions with DuPont; work on the Manhattan Project during WWII; Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Schenectady, NY; General Electric Company in Richland, WA at the Hanford Atomic Products Division; and as vice-president/general manager of A.B. Dick Company in Chicago. German came to Columbus, Ohio in 1976 with Battelle Memorial Institute, from which he retired in 1986 as vice president and corporate director of human resources. After retirement, he pursued his passion for civic and church leadership, travel, family, and community involvement.

In his years of public service, he held innumerable positions of leadership in the communities in which he lived, including board positions with the National College of Education, the Economic Club of Chicago, Ohio Commons Company, Columbus Association for Preservation of the Southern Theatre, BalletMet-Columbus, Columbus Council for Ethics and Economics, and Episcopal Retirement Homes. He was a member of the Upper Arlington Rotary, Scioto Country Club, and an active volunteer at The James Cancer Hospital.

Over the years, German held numerous positions of leadership in the Episcopal Church joking that he had filled “every position in the church except bride.” In 2003 he was inducted into the Society of St. Simeon and St. Anna honoring years of wisdom and service to the Episcopal Church. He was head verger emeritus of St. Mark’s, Upper Arlington and was a member of the Vergers’ Guild of the Episcopal Church. An avid traveler, he enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and visited China, Russia, Antarctica, Africa, the Middle East, the Arctic Circle, Scandinavia, and most countries in Europe. In later years he navigated the Amazon and other rivers of South America and most recently crossed the Atlantic aboard the Queen Mary 2. German was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 50 years, Phyllis Davis German, their eldest child, Lawrence Davis German, his brother Carleton, and sisters Helen and Jessie. He is survived by his daughter Ellen German Berndt of Upper Arlington; his son and daughter-in-law Andrew and Luann German of Canton, GA; daughters-in-law, Deborah German of Orlando, FL and Danise German of Albuquerque, NM; niece Kay Quinn of Cadillac, MI, and his dear granddaughters Elizabeth Berndt of Chicago, IL; Julia German, of Washington, DC; Laura German of Orlando, FL; and Kirsten Burroughs of Albuquerque, NM. A host of beloved friends at St. Mark’s will carry on, inspired by his guidance.The family is grateful to the staff of the Forum at Knightsbridge for their competent, warm, and loving care. A memorial service in celebration of the life of Larry German will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, August 28 at St. Mark’s, Upper Arlington. The family will greet friends at a reception following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Trinity Guild at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2151 Dorset Rd., Upper Arlington, OH. Arrangements by Schoedinger Northwest Chapel. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to extend condolences and share memories.