Larry Lavonne Umbarger

Written by Noah Carandanis (grandson)

Larry LaVonne Umbarger passed away due to a tragic accident on September 18, 2023. He is survived by his wife Jeannie, his two children Cheri (John) and William (Elizabeth), and his four grandchildren Jacob, Noah, Demetri, and Isabella.

He was born on March 28, 1950 in Eugene, Oregon, to Duane Umbarger and Emma Rose. He was one of five siblings and grew up on a farm in rural Oregon. At the age of seventeen he enlisted into the United States Air Force to serve in the Vietnam War. While training at Osan Air Force Base in South Korea, he met the love of his life, Jeannie. After a brief introduction they began writing letters to one another over the span of six years as he served in the military. In 1973, the two were married in Eugene, Oregon. He and Jeannie celebrated fifty years of marriage this past February.

His twenty-six year military service and thirteen years of civil service reflected his sense of duty to his country and servant’s heart for others. Along with his military accomplishments, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland. After he retired from active duty in the Air Force, he and Jeannie lived in Dayton, Ohio for twenty-six years. In 2018 they made the decision to fully retire in Damascus, Oregon in order to live near family. Most recently, he was a beloved member of Korean Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Clackamas, Oregon.

Everyone who crossed paths with him was touched by his kind, gentle demeanor and intuitive sense to help wherever it was needed. You would often find him cleaning after any event he attended, doing handiwork around family members’ houses, or fixing automobiles for those who could not afford it. His humble and quiet manner wove seamlessly into the life of his family, which was his greatest joy and love. His humor, humility, and service will be missed by all those who knew him. You are missed, Papa. May his memory be eternal.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any charitable donations be made to Larry's church, the Korean Immanuel Presbyterian Church at https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/1319446 .