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.
