Larry Kent Hellbaum

Larry Kent Hellbaum arrived in San Pedro, California on November 12, 1935. He started life originally as Larry Kent Gobeille later changing to Hellbaum, taking his adopted father’s name. His adventures began with a happy childhood in California, where he was the youngest of three children. Later, Larry and the family moved frequently as his doctor father changed positions. The states of Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma all served as home for a while, and he graduated from Central High in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Following his graduation, Larry enlisted in the Air Force but, due to illness, was honorably discharged after only 4 months. He then enrolled in the University of the Americas in Mexico City where he studied for two years before returning to California and entering Sacramento State. In 1960 he met and married Barbara Lee Garner and worked for Areojet. Soon, two daughters, Frederica and Danielle, arrived to enlarge the family. The marriage, however, was not to last and the couple separated in 1963. Following the separation, Larry went to work for the U.S. government and began to study to become a munitions specialist dealing with maintenance, storage, and transportation of munitions including, among others, guided missiles, land combat missiles, and ammunition. It was a career that he continued until his retirement in 1988, and one in which Larry gained great expertise and recognition. From 1969 to 1972 the government sent him twice to serve in Korea and followed that with an assignment to Vietnam in 1973 through 74, where he continued to provide munitions expertise and was recognized for his extraordinary contributions. That assignment to Vietnam was to change Larry’s life, for one day, while shopping for gifts, he met a beautiful, young Vietnamese woman who he immediately knew needed to become a part of his life. As Larry later described it in an anniversary letter, “We were naturally joined together the first time our eyes met in Vietnam.” Larry returned to the United States in the Fall of 1974, sending for Thanh, his Vietnamese love, upon his return. Thanh arrived in the U.S. in December of 74 and Larry and Thanh became one on December 18th. They set up their first home in Herlong, California, where Larry was the head supervisor at the arms depot. In April 1975 they moved to the main US arms depot at Rock Island, Illinois, where they would remain until Larry’s retirement in 1988. Larry was offered a promotion which would have required a move to Washington DC, but he refused, not wanting to become involved with the politics and nastiness of the capital. Upon retirement, Larry and Thanh, now known as Tanya, began to travel to search for a new home. They finally succeeded, settling in Anacortes, Washington on the banks of Puget Sound. Walks, fishing, digging clams, making new friends, and holding hands all filled their hours, and time passed happily. The dark and rainy Winters of Anacortes, however, began to depress the Hellbaums and they bought a small place in the sun in Yuma, Arizona. Yuma was not, however, a permanent home, and they again began to search for their new home finally settling here in Henderson in 1998. Henderson truly became their home and once more their lives were filled with new friends, new activities, family, and each other. Over time, Larry’s medical problems finally caught up with him, and he and Tanya held hands and walked together dealing with all that came. And so it ended, as Larry went on still holding Tanya’s hand. Donations may be made in the memory of Larry Kent Hellbaum to your favorite charity or to Creekside Hospice, 3675 Pecos McLeod, Unit 900, Las Vegas, NV 89121.