Larry A. Forderhase, 81, passed away at home on Sunday, July 14, 2013. Requiem Eucharist: 4 p.m. Friday at All Saints Episcopal Church. Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials in lieu of flowers, may be given to Smile Train, 41 Madison Ave., 28th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10010 ( [email protected] ) or to any animal shelter. Larry August Forderhase was born in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 6, 1931, to Georgia and Pete Forderhase. He grew up in Albuquerque and was an all-conference football player for Albuquerque High School for several years. Larry went to Baylor University on a football scholarship, graduated in 1955, and followed with a master's degree in music also from Baylor. Following college, Larry joined the U.S. Navy and became a naval aviator. He was a catapult officer on the USS Forrestal aircraft carrier and was on deck during the now famous explosion and fire aboard that ship. Larry retired from the Navy as a lieutenant commander in 1968. In 1979, Larry moved to Fort Worth where he met and married his wife, Grace Morrow Petty. Among other careers, Larry worked for some years as office manager at the law firm of Duchman Friedman and then joined his wife's law firm in 1994. Along with his wife, Larry sang in the choir at All Saints Episcopal Church for many years. Larry was friendly and loved to joke. His kind heart and easy-going disposition will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His deep faith sustained him in his final illness. God blessed Larry in his life and will bless him always. Survivors: Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Grace; his son, Paul Forderhase and wife, Martha Owens; daughter, Ellen Forderhase; his brother, Jerry Forderhase (Mary Ellen); step-daughters, Leslie Eiland (Troy), Claire Davis, Susan Stewart (Van); and grandchildren, Daniel and Andrew Forderhase, Bethany Hodges, Tiffany VanAlstyne (Scott), Michelle Juarez (Jose), Arron Eiland and Jackson Davis (Sharon).
Published in Star-Telegram on July 17, 2013