BRIGHT, Lawrence Leland 1928-2015

BRIGHT, LEEPER, HINTON, JONES, MESSINGHAM

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 11/14/2015 at 12:55:38

Larry L. Bright

Died: Aug 19, 2015

Services:
Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 29, 2015 at New Beginnings First Wesleyan Church (205 Hammond Ave) Waterloo

Visitation:
Family will receive friends Friday, August 28, 2015 at Kearns Funeral Service Kimball Chapel (3146 Kimball Ave) and also one hour before the service at the church.

Cemetery:
Inurnment at West View Cemetery in La Porte City. Military Rites conducted by Waterloo AMVETS Post 19 and Evansdale AMVETS Post 31.

Biography--

Lawrence Leland “Larry” Bright, 87, of Waterloo, died Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home after a long battle with Interstitial Lung Disease. He was born April 5, 1928 in Humeston, Iowa, the son of Willard L. and Etta Mae (Leeper) Bright. They moved to Waterloo when he was 8 years old

In 1945 Larry enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. While in the service he was on board the USS Sylvania in the Operation Crossroads Marshall Islands, Bikini atomic bomb testing’s. They decommissioned his ship due to radiation contamination and he then served on board the USS Boxer. He was honorably discharged in 1947 as Seaman 1st Class. While in the service he married Joyce Hinton and had two sons, they were later divorced. He married Yvonne Jones and had a son and two daughters, they were later divorced. In 1973 he married Louise Smock Messingham.

Larry worked for several businesses including John Deere Tractor Co., Borden Soybean Co., managed Tripoli Lanes and later Maple Lanes under Harry & Bruce Strom and Cadillac Lanes under Adrian Erickson and Milt Horak.

In 1989 Larry and Louise moved to West Union to take over Lilac Lanes purchasing it from Roy and Evelyn Granneman in 1990. He had a 300 bowling game while at Lilac Lanes. Due to his health they later sold it and moved to La Porte City, closer to his families. He was inducted into the Greater Cedar Valley Bowling Hall of Fame in 2008 in Waterloo

Amongst his many interests was golfing with his cancer card friends and son Ron every Tuesday, pool three times a week, playing cards with Louise in two card clubs and previous camping when his health permitted it. Larry was baptized in 1944 at the Waterloo City Church of the Brethren. He joined New Beginnings First Wesleyan Church in 2014.

Survived by: five children, Larry Jr. (Emily) of Geneva, MN, Ronald (Shari) of Waterloo, Calla (Wayne) Schoville of Cedar Falls, Shane (Debbie) of Waterloo and Dee Bright of Cedar Rapids. He helped raise two step-sons, Dennis (Jane) Messingham of Waterloo, Courtney (Carol) Messingham of Bloomington, IN; two nephews, Gary (Ginny) Bradshaw of Arizona and Jett Doane of Nebraska; twelve grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by: his parents and a sister, Grace Miller and two granddaughters, Tina and Candace in infancy.

Source: Kearns Funeral Service

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