In Memory

Larry Chambers

Larry Chambers

Larry Donald Chambers


Larry Donald Chambers

October 21, 2022

in Obituaries

Larry Donald Chambers, 78, of Independence, Mo., passed away and was welcomed home on Saturday, October 1, 2022.

The first of two sons, Larry was born in St. Joseph, Mo. on August 3, 1944. At the time of his birth, his father was stationed overseas serving his country in WWII with the Marines. Until his father returned home, Larry and his mother lived at his grandparents’ house, and this laid the groundwork for him spending many of his childhood summers on their farm in Stewartsville, Mo.

Larry attended school in the Independence School District and graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1963. Throughout his school days, he was very active in sports and a variety of extracurricular clubs. Always the showman, he was the first male cheerleader for William Chrisman, and was a selftaught acrobat. He was also a natural born dancer – a talent he inherited from his mother – and he never passed up the opportunity to show off his ability to boogie down to his favorite Motown music with a willing partner. Later on, his love of dancing and entertaining a crowd led him to be pulled up onstage to dance with actress Anne-Margaret during a USO Tour stop in Vietnam.

After graduating from high school, Larry briefly worked as a barber, and then decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncles by joining the military. But, instead of joining the Marines, he wanted to take a different path and enlisted in the Army in 1964. He was smitten by the idea of jumping out of perfectly good aircraft, and after completing his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., he was sent to Fort Benning, Ga., then Fort Bragg, N.C. for Airborne School. Initially part of the 82nd Airborne Brigade, Larry was deployed to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, until eventually being sent to Vietnam to become part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which had been established in the region in 1965. In addition to his duties as a paratrooper, Larry also served as a Chaplain’s Assistant. During his tour of duty in Vietnam, he was shot during battle in the Iron Triangle area near Saigon and was awarded the Purple Heart. Prior to that, he was one of only two men in his squad who narrowly escaped injury or death while fighting in Zone D during Operation Hump in November 1965. Larry returned home to the United States in 1966 and was Honorably Discharged from the Army in 1967.

While he was serving his country overseas, Larry struck up a pen-pal relationship with a mutual family friend, and over the course of their communication, they fell in love. Within three weeks of arriving back home from Vietnam, he married Marilyn, and they quickly settled into a fun-filled and cozy married life. They welcomed their first child seven years after they were married, then another child seven years later. Even though Larry and Marilyn went their separate ways after 35 years of marriage, they remained close friends and held a deep love and mutual respect for each other until the very end.

Up until the time he retired, Larry lived in Independence and Blue Springs and established a career as an independent insurance broker. He specialized in Medicare Supplement, Life, and Nursing Home policies. He chose this area of insurance so he could assist mostly rural-dwelling policy holders who reminded him of his grandparents and all the childhood memories he held so dear to his heart.

Besides spending time with his family, Larry’s one true love was golfing. He took his golf game seriously, and he was incredibly competitive no matter how much others said a round was “just for fun.” He was not only passionate about the game, he was just damn good, and held the honor of having FOUR holes-inone at four separate 18-hole courses. His no-nonsense approach to the game led him to become a volunteer Golf Course Marshal for several years at Adam’s Pointe Golf Course before he had a major stroke in 2015.

After his stroke, which robbed him of the use of his right side and affected his speech center, Larry required 24-hour care in a nursing home. Despite his new limitations, Larry never lost his sense of humor; his delight with many visits from family and friends; and his love of all things related to Mizzou, the Royals, and the Chiefs – he was absolutely in awe of Patrick Mahomes, even shedding a few tears when the Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in 2020.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Donald M. and Lyla F. Chambers; grandparents Grant and Lula Mae Williams and Frank and Grace Chambers; and nephew Donny Chambers. He is survived by his brother, Sheldon Chambers; daughter, Heather Kinsland; son, Ryan Chambers; grandchildren, Ava Kinsland, Vadyn Chambers and Layla Chambers; first cousins Dan Creasy (Sylvia) and Yvonna Beauchamp; former spouse, Marilyn Chambers; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and a multitude of friends. The wonderful memories he left with everyone who had the pleasure of making his acquaintance will be everlasting.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 23 from 12-2 p.m. at Adam’s Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs. To honor Larry’s love of his favorite sports teams, attendees are asked to wear Chiefs, Royals, or Mizzou apparel.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to one of the following: Disabled American Veterans, Veterans Community Project, American Stroke Foundation, or KC Pet Project.

Cremation services provided by the Neptune Society.



 
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10/03/22 08:55 AM #1    

Richard Fluhrer

Larry died October 1, 2022.


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