Larry Irving Willbanks

Born October 25, 1944, in Hollywood Tennessee, passed peacefully on Jan 6, 2025, in Ardmore Tennessee.

Larry entered the military on April 8, 1965. He completed 2 tours of duty in Vietnam as an Army Memorial Activities Specialist 57MOS attached to the 239th Field Service Company, 6th Army out of Fort Lewis Washington. Commendations include The National Defense Service Metal, The Vietnam Service Metal and The Vietnam Campaign Metal. Larry was Honorable Discharge on April 7, 1967.

As life continued, he took pride in protecting others and applied to the police academy and started his career in Whitehouse TX. Later he moved and served as a police officer in Columbia Tennessee. Larry came back to Texas to start with the Smith County Sheriff Dept spanning a 20 yr. career in law enforcement.

As life changed, he found a new career in Water. With a Class B water license, he worked for Southern Utility Water Co. to bring quality water to his community. With the sounds of home calling, he returned to Tenn with opportunities to restore and open a local tire shop and local Restaurant, where he brought Tx BBQ to small town Tennessee with great success. He found life as a cowboy was his true calling, his horse Scout, working cattle, writing stories and picking music.

Larry found Solace in Music and in his writing. He self-taught the guitar and spent many years pickin’ with friends at nursing homes, churches, hospitals and anyplace that needed his service. His writing became a positive way to express his feelings, tell his story, and bring the opinion of the ” P” to the masses. His time in each Community he lived in was brightened by his spirit and improved by his knowledge. He helped so many in his community, from delivering Christmas presents to kids on horseback, and making sure his friend made it to all her dialysis appointments…to laying 20 miles of water line and serving on numerous boards. He remained a support member in all his communities.

Larry is survived by his wife of 32 years, Vera Rae Willbanks. His son Kevin, His wife Lorrie and grandkids Bradey, Dalton, Becka and Kaycie and great grandkids Lucy and E.J. He is survived by his 2 younger sisters Sarah and Debbie, many Nieces, nephews and cousins. As father to many …pop was survived by his son Kevin and his wife April, grandkids Kyle, Taylor, Dallas and Cynthia, his daughter Shelle and her husband Dale. Larry was met in Heaven by his parents Robert and Arvie, his brothers Bobby, Wheeler and Norvel, his sister Martha and his sweet girl Sheba

Services will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 2:00PM at Grace Place Church 220 Kimbrough rd. Prospect, Tenn. 38477. Instead of flowers, please send donation to Grace Place Church