SMSgt. (Retired) Larry Ray Newman, 72, of Celina, Texas, followed his final orders to Heaven January 4, 2014. He and his twin sister were the first set of twins born at Highland General Hospital in Pampa, Texas on August 6, 1941 to Jack Plaus Newman and James Elnora Boulton Newman. Larry was raised in Texas and graduated from public school in Dalhart, Texas. He joined the Air Force at the age of 19, proudly serving his country at assignments in Spain, Morocco, Kansas, New Mexico, California, Alaska, and Michigan, as well as a tour of duty in Vietnam. Larry was a highly respected Security Police Officer, honored with many commendations and awards, some of which are: the Vietnam Service Medal w/ four bronze stars; Air Force Outstanding Unit w/ 6 oak leaf clusters; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm; and two Meritorious Awards. Larry was selected to attend, and graduated from, FBI Hostage Negotiating. He also served as a US Customs Officer. Larry retired from the Air Force as Superintendent of Law Enforcement.

While he was stationed at Shilling AFB in Salina, Kansas, he met the love of his life, Donna (Adams). They were in their 50th year of marriage at the time of his death. Larry and Donna's obvious commitment to each other's daily happiness was a testament to their marital devotion and commitment. It served as an inspirational example of true love for all around them. Along with Donna came daughter, Tammy, and son, Marty, to whom Larry was as committed as he was to their mother. Son, Larry, and daughter, Kelli, completed this tight-knit family, for which adventures and blessings were plentiful. Larry's humor, patience, and calming influence was the strong thread that held the family together through the tough times as well as the hectic life characteristic of a military family of six, involved in education and activities to raise children to be happy, successful adults. To ensure his own children's success, as well as to be a positive influence on other youth, Larry served on the Alaska State Babe Ruth Baseball Board, the Tanana Valley Youth Sports Association, the Eielson AFB Youth Center Board, and on the North Pole Nicks Baseball Board.

After retiring from the Air Force, Larry started a new career working for the State of Alaska as a Corrections Officer at the Fairbanks Correctional Center. During this time, he was a member of the Alaska Peace Officer's Association. He retired from the State of Alaska after serving 13 years.

Larry did not stay retired for long, and after some traveling with Donna, accepted a position as a Counselor at a residential youth home for troubled teens in Ketchikan, Alaska. This would turn out to be his favorite, most gratifying work. Whether driving the kids out to see the waterfall and teaching them to sing George Strait's "Texas" about his beloved home state, taking them rollerskating, or just getting them to a playground to play basketball, he relished his time with them and they with him. One former resident, who now has 10 years of sobriety, remembers "He really went out of his way with the kids, always telling jokes and having a good time. When you're in that kind of situation a positive outlook goes a long way . . . not many people have faith in a drug addict, but he did."

Most thought Larry would never really retire, but when he finally did, it wasn't uncommon to hear that he was in Vegas or off on a road trip to see family with Donna. They loved to get in their car and hit the road. Of course, those trips were planned around the high school sports events of his Texas grandkids. One time, he was late arriving at one of the Celina Ladycats basketball games and found the coach waiting just outside the locker room to receive the "power pills" (M&Ms) the girls had come to expect from him before each game. At home, you could find him enjoying early morning coffee and watching the news with his dog, Butch, lying beside him. Later in the day, you could find Larry and Butch walking in the park. The day ended with a little ear lick just before Butch settled into his bed next to Larry.

There are many stories of the mischief, fun, and humor Larry brought to our lives. Teasing rattlesnakes and teaching the JC Penney clerks to do the Macarena in the store aisle are a couple of examples. Good-naturedly accusing his children of kidnapping as they tried to care for him in his last days is just one more. Larry impacted many lives with his compassionate acts, like trading work shifts with young fathers so they could be home with their children on Christmas morning, and selling his one night a month off while in Vietnam, so that he had a little pocket money, since his entire paychecks were sent home to his family.

As his niece so accurately wrote: "Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all had a heart like my Uncle Larry . . . heart with endless compassion, fierce protectiveness and unconditional love for others and crazy humor?"


Larry is survived by wife, Donna Newman; daughter, Tamara (Doug) Morris, of Juneau, Alaska; son, Marty (Kim) Newman, of Celina, Texas; son, Larance (Tonya) Newman, of Portland, Oregon; and daughter, Kelli (Joe) Martin, of Ashqelon, Israel; grandsons, Michael Morris, Matthew Morris, Brady Newman, Aaron Newman, Jacob Newman, and Nicholas Bangle; granddaughters, Danielle Myles, Melissa Beedle, Mackynzie Newman, Raegan Newman, Logan Newman, and Sabrina Cogswell; brother, Jackie Newman; 17 nieces and nephews; and 15 great-grandchildren. He joins family that has gone before him: his father and mother; his twin, Sharon Kay Newman McGee; Sister, Yvonne Newman Iams; a great-granddaughter, a niece and a nephew.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm at Wilson Family Funeral Home in Minneapolis, Kansas. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Kansas. A burial service will follow at Highland Cemetery in Minneapolis. In honor of Larry's compassion for youth-at-risk, his desire was that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the teen home that he so enjoyed, Residential Youth Care, Inc. PO Box 7574, Ketchikan, AK 99901; point of contact is Michael Martin, 907-821-8