Obituary of Lawrence Thomas Ricamore
Larry Ricamore, 80 years young, of Richardson Texas died March 8th surrounded by family after a valiant and stoic four-month contest with lung cancer. He remained pragmatic and unflinching to his last labored breath.
Larry proudly served in the Marine Corps active duty from 1958-1962, he would on rare occasion recount stories of enduring long cruises on Naval ships and surviving helicopter crashes in southeast Asia. He later transferred to the Marine Corps reserves and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas Arlington.
As Larry segued into civilian life, he began working in the defense industry and remained in that industry for most of his professional life starting with LTV Aerospace in the 1960’s in Michigan and later transferring to Texas. From the mid 1970’s into the 1980’s he worked in the non-defense industry for ten years, most notably for Stewart Engineering and Anchor Crane & Hoist. He returned to LTV in the 1980’s and retired from Lockheed-Martin in 2003 with 27 years of non-contiguous service. He flunked retirement, and immediately went to work for L3. Larry later returned to Lockheed-Martin for five years and was employed with Bell Helicopter for seven plus years when he passed away. He loved both Lockheed-Martin and Bell Helicopter, particularly the people he worked with; he especially enjoyed mentoring younger colleagues when called upon. He considered many of his current and past coworkers to be good friends and some his brothers-in-arms.
People often commented that Larry was ‘The salt of the earth.’ He was his wife’s ‘rock.’ He had an irreverent and politically incorrect sense of humor and liked to occasionally drink too much red wine while socializing, scandalizing or entertaining his friends and family. When it became clear that he would not survive his illness he said he felt like he had had a pretty good run and accomplished a lot, he’d served in the USMC, raised children, worked hard, travelled to many exotic places and spent his last forty years with the love of his life. He died too soon, but with bravery and contentment for his life.
Larry was the son of Edgar C. Ricamore and Inez LaRochelle Ricamore, both deceased. He leaves many behind, his wife Storm Small Ricamore, his children Scott Ricamore and wife Sarah, Yvonne Saunier-Fisher and husband Tom, Brigette James and William Ricamore. Grandchildren Taylor Ricamore, Chase Ricamore and wife Kali, Keegan Saunier and Ashli Stratton, plus several great grandchildren. Also, his honorary sons, Hai Nguyen and Jason Watson, his wife Libby and their son Lawrence, plus his favorite sister-in-law Scotti Small-Phillips, her husband Greg and their daughter Skylar Storm.
Larry was also the eldest of eight siblings and leaves behind Annette Stamatakis, Mary Anne Neis and husband Bob, Timothy Ricamore and wife Shelley, Kylleen Tremont and husband David, E. Carter Ricamore and wife Michelle, Rochelle McKee and husband Dennis, and Kenneth Ricamore, plus several nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
Larry did not want a large funeral; he was concerned that people might enjoy taking off work to attend. Per Larry’s wishes, his ashes were interred with military honors at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in a private ceremony on March 20th. Larry did get the lively Irish Wake he had wished for on March 23rd, there were very many in attendance to celebrate his life and drink his liquor, he would have heartily approved.
Hopefully there is a warm sandy beach, good historical novels and decent red wine where he went.