Obituary of Lawrence Walter Strahler

Lawrence “Larry” Strahler passed away peacefully at Casa de la Luz Hospice in Tucson, AZ, on May 23, 2018. He was 95 years old.

            Larry was born on April 12, 1923, in Waterford, OH. One of twelve children, Larry was raised on a family farm before enlisting in the US Army in February of 1944. As a rifleman in F Company, 377th Regiment, he landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, and joined Patton’s 95th Infantry as they began their march across France. On November 9, 1944, he was shot through the chest during a battle outside of Metz, France, and while four of his fellow soldiers were carrying him to safety, they were surrounded and captured. Larry spent the next five months in various German prison hospitals before being liberated in Heppenheim, Germany, on April 10, 1945. After being treated for pneumonia and malnutrition for ten weeks in a hospital in Paris, France, he was flown to Fletcher General Hospital in Cambridge, OH, where he began his recuperation. He was honorably discharged as a corporal, and for his service, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, ETO Ribbon, three battle stars, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Victory Medal, the American Theatre Ribbon and the Bronze Star. In March of 2017, he was appointed a Chevalier (Knight) of France’s National Order of the Legion of Honor at an official ceremony in Vail, AZ.

            In 1946, Larry moved to Tucson, AZ, in search of work, warm weather and clean air. He met Mary Jane Heimbach on a blind date and married her six weeks later on November 4, 1947. Together they had four children: Judy Strahler, Diane (Tom) Chapin, Mark (Patty) Strahler and Lisa (Randy) Hales. Larry and Mary were married 67 years before she passed away on January 2, 2015.

            Larry opened Larry’s Texaco in 1953. Although he “retired” in 1985 when he turned the business over to his son, Mark, he continued to work six days a week at Mark and Larry’s Shell Auto Service before finally “taking some time off” in 2017.

            Larry will forever be known as a loving father and grandfather and a devoted friend. He loved deep sea fishing, the Arizona Diamondbacks and a good joke. He is survived by three of his twelve siblings: Elizabeth Buckohr and Mary Englehart (OH), and Richard Strahler (CA); his four children; his three grandchildren: Zachary Bridegroom (Jessica Ramirez), Linda (Ryan) Reusch and Sarah Strahler; and his two great-grandsons, Theodore and Jackson. He was a kind, honest man with a wonderful sense of humor, and he will be greatly missed by all.

            A funeral rosary and mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at St. Rita in the Desert Catholic Church, 13260 E Colossal Cave Road, Vail, AZ. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Volunteer Office.