Larry D. Williams passed away December 12, 2025, at Stormont -Vail Health Center in Topeka, he was 79 years old.
Laurence Donald (Larry) Williams was born November 3, 1946. His parents, Lyle Williams and Esther Evans Williams resided northeast of White City, Kansas. Larry attended Melrose District 51 grade school his first three years. From 4th grade on, Larry attended White City schools, graduating from White City High School in 1964. The next two years were spent at Manhattan Bible College in Manhattan, Kansas.
In June 1965 Larry met the love of his life after accepting an invitation for a blind date. He and Linda were married September 17, 1966, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Manhattan. That marriage and love of his wife and family continued until his death. Linda and Larry moved to Junction City in 1967. While living in Junction City the marriage was blessed with their first child in 1972, Crystal Lynne.1974 saw a move to Herington, Kansas. Most of the time in Herington, Larry worked for Baxter Construction Company and Smoky Hill, Inc getting his "feet wet" in the field of water/wastewater construction. He also logged many hours in part-time work with the City of Herington Police Department. While in Herington, the family became larger with the births of Catherine Jolene in 1976 and Michael Evahrt in 1983.
The family moved back to Manhattan in 1985 where Larry was employed by Walters-Morgan Construction as a Project Manager and Fleet Manager. In 1990, the family moved to Olathe, Kansas where Larry was employed by Ray Lindsey Company. While at Ray Lindsey, Larry received numerous awards for achievements in the application and marketing of process and pumping equipment to the water/wastewater industry. 1999 brought the family back "home" to Manhattan where Linda and Larry resided for the remainder of their lives.The last 15 years of Larry's career he was associated with Bartlett & West, headquartered in Topeka. Those years with Bartlett & West were spent as an Engineer's Representative, building water/wastewater projects from Northeast Missouri, to South Dakota, to Oklahoma, and many projects in Kansas. Larry was never bashful in talking about his 2,000 nights in hotels over the last 14 years of his career. Or, when asked what he did as a career, answering "Forty years playing in other people's poop!" Larry took pride in knowing his projects were critical in providing people with safe drinking water or treating their waste so it could be delivered back to rivers and streams in a condition safe for the environment.
One of the highlights of Linda and Larry's marriage was the opening of their home to over 100 foster children, including Jim Picard and Liz Corder who were adopted in their hearts and are still a part of their lives today. Larry was proud to walk Liz down the aisle and enjoyed taking road trips to visit Jim.If Larry had an addiction, it was to the game of golf. Larry was a member at Stagg Hill and served on their Board of Directors. For years, Larry was a "dew sweeper" teeing off as the sun was barely up enough to see the first fairway. Larry made four holes in one and after retirement he saw some years where he logged almost 200 rounds of golf. He never tired of the banter and chasing of a golf ball with his "geezer group" at Stagg Hill Golf Club. Playing competitively with the guys very competitively while vying for quarters was a daily routine he looked forward to doing.
Larry's parents preceded him in death. Surviving him is his loving wife of almost 60 years, Linda and his children, Crystal Lynne Danker (Sam) of Manhattan, Catherine Jolene Smith (Travis) of Versailles, MO, and Michael Evahrt Williams (Amanda) of Fayetteville, NC, his grandchildren Reagan (Matt), Kennedy, Anna (Nate), Christopher (Haley), Russell, Austin (Tasi), Riley, Peyton and great-grandchildren, Kiko, Kai, Hunter and Dalton. He will also be missed by his lap-companion, Angel."Playing golf, you can get a bad bounce of the ball, or you can mishit a shot far into the trees. Like life, when the bad bounces happen you can't go back. You can only focus on the shot in front of you and try to do better. Golf can be a humbling game. Life can be a humbling experience. No matter how sweet the shot coming off the club, nothing can match the satisfaction of a loving wife and family that the Good Lord has so blessed me with."
The family will greet friends during a visitation from 5:00 until 7:00p.m. Wednesday December 17, 2025, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00a.m. Thursday December 18, 2025 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan. Private inurnment will be held at a later date.In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions in memory of Larry be made to the Manhattan Junior Golf Association (manhattanjrgolf.com) or the KVC Kansas (kansas.kvc.org/donate). Contributions may also be sent to the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com