Lawrence "Larry" E Wagoner

Services will be 2PM on June 17th at

Memorial Oaks Funeral Home

13001 Katy Freeway

Houston, Tx 77079

The family asks that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to Disabled American Veterans at DAV.ORG.

Larry lived an interesting life. Larry was born in the family home in Wellsville, Ohio in 1941 to William G. Wagoner and Betty K. Lockhart above a pool hall where his dad ran an illegal card game in the back room. Larry had an older brother Jim and younger sister Kathy. As a young teen, Larry’s dad moved to Las Vegas where his dad began a lifelong career working in the city’s casino business. His poor mom followed later with her three kids in a broken-down old car, no gps or cell phone and little money. Larry had a storybook life at Las Vegas High. He was a High School All American Football player and State Football Champ. Lettered all four years and held the record for the most points scored by an interior lineman. His high school sweetheart was the Head Cheerleader and Homecoming Queen, the most beautiful girl in school. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Ann Johnsen in 1959, and remained married until her passing in 2016.

While in high school they would watch atomic bombs being detonated while drinking beer. He meet Elvis Presley twice one time giving Elvis a jump when his Cadillac wouldn’t start after a show at the Sahara Hotel where dad was a security guard and Ann Margret who happened to be Elvis’s date. He watched Don Rickles show from the back room while working security and every time Don would see him would lay into him and just rip him to shreds.

Dad lived an interesting life.

Larry attended the University of Utah on a football scholarship, earned a BS in Economics and started his family. Barbara and Larry started early and had three children.

Larry had three major professions in his life.

He served in Vietnam as a Captain in the 7th Marine Corp and earned multiple Purple Hearts.

He had nearly a three-decade long career with Conoco. Started in transportation, rose through the ranks to Assistant President and finally Manager of Industrial Relations.

He had nearly a three-decade long career as an adjunct professor teaching in the classroom and on TV at the University of Houston. Teaching classes in leadership, wage and salary management, and labor relations.

He retired from teaching in 2018 due to health reasons. Once a Marine always a Marine certainly rang true, but Larry really loved teaching.

The Marines and Conoco moved his family multiple times throughout the country with usually just a year or two between relocations. The last move was to Sugar Land, Texas in 1979 where he maintained a residence until his passing. In the last years of his life as his health deteriorated, he lived with his partner Bea in Houston where she took care of him, and they kept each other’s company.

Semper-Fi (Always Faithful)

1963-1967

“Commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1963. Attended Officers school at Quantico, Virginia 1963/4 and in the spring of 1964 was transferred to 1st Anti- Tank Battalion of the 1st Marine Division located at Camp Pendleton, California. Lt. Wagoner was assigned command of the 1st Platoon of Charlie Company. The primary weapon of the Anti-Tank Battalion was a track vehicle (called the Ontos) that was armed with six 106 rifles. Each platoon had five (5) vehicles and each vehicle had a crew of three Marines. In the early summer of 1965 Charlie Company was attached to the 7th Marine Regiment and subsequently shipped out to Viet Nam. While in Viet Nam Lt. Wagoner was wounded when the Ontos on which he was riding struck a land mine. He was subsequently hospitalized at the US Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. He was hospitalized for about a month and following his recovery he returned to his unit in Viet Nam. A month or so after returning to Viet Nam he was involved in another land mine explosion. This time the wounds were not serious and did not require evacuation. Upon returning to the United States, he was assigned to a training command at Camp Pendleton in California and was promoted to Captain. He was discharged in August of 1967.”

Written by Robyn Oliver

Larry is survived by his three children and their families.

William Wagoner – Son

Pam – Daughter In-Law

Jennifer - Granddaughter

Phoenix - Great Granddaughter

Peyton – Great Grandson

Lori Half - Daughter

Gary - Son In-Law

James Wagoner - Son

Cathy – Daughter In-Law

And his companion Bea Tincha, her daughter Laurie and granddaughter Robyn