Larry Zylstra died Nov. 22, 2010, at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville, at the age of 74. He was born on July 17, 1936 to Lysle and Ruth (Armstrong) Zylstra at Polly Harpole’s Maternity Home in Coupeville.

Larry was raised in Coupeville, graduating from Coupeville High School in 1954. Larry was very active in school sports, participating in baseball, basketball and football. Following graduation, Larry enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, hoping to see the world. Following boot camp in Texas, he was assigned to Geiger Field, Spokane, spending his entire military service in Washington state.

While in Spokane, he met the love of his life, Retha Rask, and on Aug. 18, 1957, they were married in Opportunity, Wash. Leaving the Air Force, Larry attended Kinman Business College in Spokane. He was then hired by Boyer Ford Sales in Oak Harbor to work as an accountant. He stayed there for 42 years, serving as office manager with Boyer, Maylor and finally Berg Ford.

Larry had a passion for sports. He coached and umpired slow pitch and fast pitch softball, umpired Little League baseball, football, basketball and baseball and had been a lifelong bowler. Larry was a member of the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge 2362, the American Legion, George Morris Post 2282, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Whitehead-Muzzall Post 7392 and a Past Washington State Vice President of Jaycees. He held most of the offices of the Oak Harbor Chapter.

Larry is survived by his loving wife Retha and two children, Gwen Wood and Gregg Zylstra, all of Oak Harbor; three brothers, Ronny Zylstra and Jerry Zylstra, both of Palm Springs, Calif., and Dennis of Coupeville; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as numerous relatives and friends.

Memorial services for Larry Zylstra will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Living Hope Foursquare Church in Coupeville with Pastor Dave Engle officiating. Family graveside services will proceed at Sunnyside Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, Oak Harbor.