Larry Lee Colvin Jr., a resident of Aledo, passed away Tuesday, January 9, at Medical City Hospital in Weatherford, at the age of 88.
Larry was born on June 18, 1935, in Beeville, Texas. He developed an early interest in music during elementary and junior high school in Big Lake, Texas, under the Band Director Charles Vick. At thirteen, Larry moved to Anchorage, Alaska and continued with band. Later, he joined the army and became a member of the Ninth Army Band and developed an appreciation for jazz, classical, and country western music.
After the army, Larry moved back to Texas and enrolled in Abilene Christian College; he proceeded to explore his interest in music and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education. His first teaching position was in San Angelo, Texas as an elementary strings teacher.
Larry married his wife, Charlsie Wooldridge, in 1961; they were married for 62 years.
In 1962, Larry began his career as band director in Archer City; he enjoyed building his music program. In 1964, he moved to Sunray, Texas ,as high school band director. In 1966, he was hired by the Irving Independent School District and became the band director at Travis Junior High School. Later was promoted to band director at MacArthur High School; where he worked with the marching band, concert band, and jazz band. This was an exciting time for him and the students.
The band received recognition for outstanding ratings for its performance at individual marching and concert contests. On New Years Day 1971, the three high school bands and drill teams from Irving I.S.D.: Irving, Nimitz, and MacArthur performed at the Cotton Bowl Pre-game Show under the direction of Larry Colvin. This was an honor for the band members and their parents, as well as for the city of Irving, Texas.
After retiring from the Irving Independent School District, Larry had time to enjoy traveling and hiking in many Texas state and national parks. He spent more time with his hobby of photography, especially landscapes and learning to develop his own film. He enjoyed cooking, especially baking French and Italian Bread. He loved basketball and became an avid fan of the Dallas Mavericks Basketball Team. He loved reading, especially about the history of Texas and the United States as well as baking books. He had macular degeneration and as his vision became more limited; he continued his reading interest with audio books.
He was preceded in death by his father, Larry L. Colvin Sr. and his mother, Edith Morgan Bauwens, and his brother, Clark Colvin.
He is survived by his wife, Charlsie Wooldridge Colvin; sister, Rora Shook Colvin, Junction, Texas; step-brothers, Bert Mahnken and his wife, Ann, Mason, Texas, and Bruce Mahnken, Rowlett; sister-in-law, Marlene Pennington, Houston; nieces and nephews: Nicole and Tony Gutierrez, North Hills, California; Heather and Bryan McDaniel, Houston; Carey Wooldridge, Nexia, Missouri; and Tina and Andy Fielder, Bartlesville, OK; great nieces and nephews: Ollie and Max Gutierrez; Sophia and Sidney McDaniel; and Abbey Fielder; two longtime friends who are former fellow travelers and band directors: Gary Zook, Floresville, Texas and Earl Haberkamp, Fort Worth.
This lovely man will be missed and his memory treasured by his family and close friends.
In lieu of flowers the family would ask that you consider a donation to one of these organizations that provide medical support to children; which was important to Larry:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
P.O. Box 50
Memphis, TN 38101-9929
Shriners Hospitals for Children
P. O. Box 1576
Ranson, WV 25438-9907
The Community News
January 26, 2024
