home

‹ previous page  1  2  3  4  5  6  7   next page ›

From Jenny Boudreault:

Jenny Boudreault sent in a photo from her wedding with Jason on June 23, 2007… officiated by Larry. Then there is Larry with the mariachi band at the reception.

This is a very special painting Jenny did of Larry in 2006.

From Mary Duffie:

Many years ago, our young grandson, Traywick from SC, accompanied me to the Town N’ Country, where we met up with Larry. I introduced Traywick to Captain Walker, then explained that because Santa was so busy this time of year, Larry was Santa’s helper in Oriental. Larry commented, “Oh, but I am Santa Claus’s first cousin” as he hardily shook Traywick’s hand. Of course, he came home and told his siblings and cousins. From then on, when Larry drove by our house in his red convertible, any one of our grands would yell, “There goes Santa’s cousin.” What a loss to our community.

Another great memory is that Larry owned an accordion which he lent to an accordionist-less player for the very first Accordion Blast on the porch of The Bean. We showed a picture of Larry with a bag over his head and used that to advertise this event. The first person to recognize him was to receive a free ice cream cone. What a fun-loving guy.

With fond memories, Mary Duffie

From Sarah, Steve and Alden Kenney, came an email titled, “Goodbye, Santa’s cousin.”

For kids, living in Oriental is special in many ways. Freedom to ride bikes, growing up on the water, and having the pleasure of personally knowing Santa’s “cousin” Captain Larry Walker.

Alden Kenney with Santa.(Photo from Kenney Family colleciton.)

Seeing Larry around town was great year round, but in December it also meant being able to have some personal time with Santa with all his “connections” to the north pole. We will always remember these special times so fondly.

God Bless You….and to all a good night.

From Joe Hempel of Cincinnati, Ohio:

I was very fortunate to have met Larry by chance while on vacation in North Carolina. He had invited my brother and I to his sailboat for a drink. We were but two total strangers but Larry saw it as an opportunity to make two new friends. I will never forget how he just made you feel so good being in his company. By the end of the evening I gained more from Larry than I could have ever hope to return.

He invited us to come back the following summer to help officiate the Tarpon Tournament which we gladly accepted. Larry put us up at his house for the weekend and you just couldn’t ask for a more hospitable experience. Larry drove us around all weekend and introduced us to many of his friends and I was just amazed at how he knew every single person in town and had a story to tell of each and every one.

Joe and Tom Hempel with Larry Walker at last summer’s Rotary Tarpon Tournament.(Photo from Joe Hempel Collection.)

That weekend last summer during the tournament is one I am never going to forget. I remember the day we had to leave, and we shook Larry’s hand to thank him, and he said “you can’t leave yet because we are still having fun”. And so it goes with Larry. You just can’t help having fun and laughter when you are with him.

Our last evening in Oriental was spent on the back of another sailboat belonging to friends of his from Saint Louis. Everyone knows how much Larry loved his music and how he enjoyed music trivia, trying to recall lyrics to old songs. We sat on the back of that boat trying to stump each other for hours among the singing and laughing. And one song I tried to stump Larry on was “Sailing” by Christopher Cross, and he knew every word.

Sail on Great Captain, the horizon ahead holds all of your dreams!

From Priscilla and Roger Wormell:

Our family was in town to help celebrate our Anniversary and my big birthday. We all went to the Silo’s the night before the big celebration and Larry waved a big hello.

As I introduced him to our kids and grandkids, my son said” it’s her —th birthday and at that point Larry broke into the Marilyn Monroe rendition of HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Needless to say our guests were quite surprised and I have another wonderful memory of a very great man who left us too soon.

From Nancy & Ray Buckley:

At Christmas of 2005 Larry fulfilled a long time wish of 92 year old Mary Alice Harmon, who hade always wanted to sit on Santa’s lap and pull his beard…

From Jim, Stephanie, Nicole, and Alexis Edwards

We have adored Larry since we first “met” him six years ago through his personalized letters from Santa to our girls Nicole and Alexis. He bonded with the “sailor girls,” always encouraging them to stump him with obscure boating questions, and he in turn, would have a question that would send them scurrying for the answer. He was kind enough to give them official job interviews and employ them, on their terms, at his World Wide Marine training center. He was also a wonderful part of our youth sailing program, christening our fleet of opti’s and helping to train some of our staff. What a kind, patient and humble man.

He, and some of his friends, took a sailing class with us several weeks ago, getting ready for his trip to the BVI’s. He was looking forward to a great vacation. We were so saddened to hear the news of his death, still can’t believe it. What a special man, we will miss having him in our lives.

From Carol Coulter:

Larry baked the cake for Alex’ first birthday. He definitely made the best!! As the pictures illustrates-arrival then the disbelieve: what for me? then – awesome!!

“everyone knows that Larry had Santa connections – his connection with the Easter Bunny was not as well known. This picture was taken at a kids Easter party at our home and when I needed a Easter Bunny – I knew just where to find him.” Carol Coulter

From Elizabeth Tyndall Harwick ( Casey and Abby too!)

I almost did not write – there are certainly others that knew Larry far better than I did – but in reading the many memories, I have to share one that I will always remember. My oldest daughter had just turned 4 and was seriously doubting the existence of Santa Claus. My heart was breaking a little when I convinced her to go to the Village Club and see Santa. My late husband Phillip and I took her and her little sister, who was about 2 at the time. . . when it was our turn to go up Casey looked at me with her big blue eyes and said “I don’t know Mommy, I think he’s just a regular guy.” At that moment, Santa looked up and said “HELLLLOOOOOOOO Casey how are you on this cold night??” Her eyes were huge as she held onto my hand. He “ho ho ho’d” and said “Elizabeth, Phillip how are you with the little Abby?” Casey looked up in wonder and said “You know Santa?” He laughed again and said “I’ve known your mom and dad for a very long time . . . “ She hasn’t doubted since.

And no, Larry Walker, was not and never has been “just a regular guy.” Rest in peace dear friend knowing that you have touched so many lives.

From Crystal and Damarcus Greene:

I cant express my feelings when I received the phone call last week. I moved to Oriental about 9 years ago and work at two of the marinas and two of the restaurants. Capt. Larry was so kind and generous. He always gave me words of wisdom and many times he kept me going when I thought I couldn’t do it anymore. He always smiled and would say awe just give me hug Crystal, and it always seemed to make me feel so much better than I did at first. My son Marcus has been to every parade and we always stood in the same spot. Capt. Larry always looked at us and wished us both a Merry Christmas by our names. My son thought he was the coolest thing cause Santa always calls him out. As I was reading the towndock about Capt. Larry my sons eyes lit up and he said look its Santa from the parade. I haven’t yet told him, we have been through so much this year and I don’t know how to tell him and it not break his little heart. I started crying and he said what happened momma. So I told him that he had passed away and he has been nothing but tears sense. For the past year and a half Capt. Larry has made it a point to call my son and I every Sunday to make sure we are okay. I don’t know how I’m going to get over his calls. Always happy and cheerful with tons of wisdom and he always had a answer to ever problem I had. I will truly never forget him, nor will my son. He was a very positive person in my life and for that I am truly grateful.

We love you Capt. Larry…

From Sally Belangia:

The Belangia and Dunn family were honored to have Larry Walker at our Thanksgiving dinner. He wanted to know what he could cook and bring and I told him just to bring some beer or wine. Of course he showed up with 2 bottles of champagne and gave a toast to our parents, Lucille and Billy Truitt who are in heaven fishing. He said they were one of the first people he met when he came to Oriental. Afterwards he was headed to see Frieda W Hudson.

Everyone loved Larry, including me. He was a great friend, Rotarian, Captain, Cancer Survivor and the real Santa. Sometimes when he would come in the bank he would take me for a ride around town in his convertible. We always laughed and joked that someone in town would talk about us and we hope they did. I will truly miss him. I have his picture on my desk to always remind me of how great he was.

‹ previous page  1  2  3  4  5  6  7   next page ›

Posted Friday December 3, 2010 by Melinda Penkava