LARRY SPENCER TYLER
Larry S. Tyler was born the fourth of six children on March 25, 1944, on a farm in Logansport, LA, to Ernest Howard and Johnny Maude Tyler. He attended Logansport public schools and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1962 when he was named a National Merit Scholar. Larry majored in Psychology at Stephen F. Austin SU in Nacogdoches, TX until he was drafted in1965. Larry was an avionics technician and served 2 years in Germany before being sent to Vietnam in 1968 where he was a staff sergeant in the 101st Airborne Division.
After Vietnam, Larry earned a BA in Psychology at the University of Houston in 1970. He attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, TX, taking an intern year as a missionary in Korea. There he and his wife, Dona Kathryn (D.K.) adopted a Korean foundling, Bryan, who followed his father into Christian ministry, working for GUTS church in Tulsa. Their second adopted son also works in Tulsa in online tech support.
Larry served as pastor of Presbyterian churches in Victoria, Crockett, and Carthage, TX for a total of twenty years. He also proudly served as an Army chaplain for 20 years, retiring as a major in 2004. He earned a second master’s degree from Texas A&M University, Central Texas in 1992. On active duty, Chaplain Tyler sandwiched another year in Korea between long tours at Fort Hood, TX where he and D. K. were very active in the local Mensa group. Perhaps his favorite job was the last one he is held-serving fifteen years as a hospice chaplain at Heartsway Hospice in Longview, TX. He combined hospice chaplaincy with volunteer work in prison ministry.
In retirement, he and his wife have traveled to Alaska, Europe, and Canada. They moved during the past year to a retirement community to be near their sons and grandchildren in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Larry was preceded in passing by his two brothers, John Tyler and Donald Tyler, and his sister, Carol Tyler. He is survived by his wife of fifty-four years, Dona Kathryn Tyler, sons Bryan Tyler (Keira) and Joshua Tyler, grandchildren Aiden and Quinn Tyler, all of Tulsa; sister Kathryn Walker (Bruce) of Beaumont, TX, and brother Bruce Tyler (Linda) of New Braunfels, TX. He had numerous nieces and nephews of whom he was very fond.
Larry had great intellectual curiosity and was a lifelong learner. He will be remembered for his kindness and loving heart and will be greatly missed.
The family will be having a private service. Condolences can be shared at www.floralhaven.com
