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Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Obituary: Larry A. Fletcher, 80, Genesee, PA


Larry A. Fletcher, of Genesee, PA, left this life (May 13, 2018) exactly as he lived it, decisively and ready for his next adventure.  He was 80 years old and gave the best hugs in the world.
Born in Nebraska to Hoye and Gwen Fletcher he later moved to the Washington DC area where he spent more than 50 years. Itching for one more adventure, he and his wife moved to Potter County, PA in 2014,  where he remained until his death, happily spending time with his gun club, hanging out at Potter County Outfitters, eating at “Mama’s” and other local establishments, and chatting up the cashiers at the local Rite Aid.
A graduate of Colorado State (BS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS), and George Washington University (PhD AbD) he was an Electrical Engineer who spent his professional life in service for his country, designing communications systems used in support of military operations world-wide.  He was considered by many to be the world’s leading expert on Very Low Frequency, which he would willingly discuss with anyone who expressed a passing interest and he could do it in English, Norwegian, German, and Russian.  Passionate about his field of expertise, he also spent many years as an Adjunct Professor of Engineering at George Washington University where he delighted in encouraging future engineers to look for the possible in their craft.  Despite his exacting standards, he was voted Professor of the Year several years running.
He was an Amateur Radio hobbyist (K3SZN), active in several clubs and often first out to support communications during disasters, usually hurricanes.  His other hobbies included shooting, gardening, ranting at current politics, and refusing to acknowledge his own mortality by taking up post-retirement activities such as riding motorcycles and flying experimental aircraft, both of which ended when he crashed his bike and his plane. He is survived by his loving, faithful, and amazingly patient wife Fredericka, as well as the five children they produced and sent into the world with instruction to be useful.  They are three daughters: Debra Yamanaka and former husband Bill, who never successfully escaped the family, and their four children Reggie, Cheryl, Ken, and Gwendolyn and Cheryl’s husband Billy and daughter Aliana, Tamra and Tony Herring, and their children Nathan, Savannah, and AJ, and Amy and Andy Dove and their sons Andy, Josh, and Jacob. He is also survived by his two sons, Jon and David Fletcher and David’s wife Jennifer and their children Melissa, Kevin, and Mark. He is also survived by his only brother, Doug Fletcher and wife Jan along with their three children Julie, Kip, and Jill and many grand nieces and nephews. Friends may call Thursday, May 17, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Olney Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ulysses, PA, where Funeral Services will be held on Friday at 11:00 AM.  His brother-in-law, the Rev. James L. Green will officiate. Burial will be in Raymond Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Raymond Cemetery, c/o Tamra Herring, 38 Kidney Road, Genesee, PA 16923. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfuneralhome.com.