Lawrence was born to John William and Lydia Koch Thie August 17, 1912 at the Thie farm near Huntersville, Ind. As he grew up he enjoyed hunting and doing farm chores with his older brother Orville. His sister, Esther, was a second mother for her younger brothers.
Lawrence graduated from Batesville High School (Indiana) in 1930. In 1938 he received a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. During these years, he was involved with Rural Farm Youth and the early years of 4-H in Indiana both as a club member and a leader.
At a Trianon Sorority party at Butler University he met Mary Louise Nugent, his wife of 67 years who was his partner in all things and cherishes his memory. This marriage was blessed with three daughters: Carol (Indiana); Bonnie (China) and son-in-law Randal Cowart; Krista (Washington) and son-in-law Daryl L. Hoyt.; along with grandchildren Diane, Amy, Kerala, and Avery; and great-grandchildren Keiren and Hailey. All treasure their memories of a father, grandfather and “Grandpa G.G.”
His service during World War II was with the weather reporting division of the Army Air Corps. He was stationed at bases in Florida, Mississippi, California and Washington, “as far west and as far north“ as the army would send him. Larry was honorably discharged as a major in 1945. This Hoosier farm boy fell in love with the beautiful Pacific Northwest and never returned to Indiana to live.
Larry worked for the Indiana Farm Bureau Cooperative, the Farm Security Administration, Washington State University and Agency for International Development (AID). His expertise in agriculture enabled him to help and to educate people around the world; most particularly in Nepal, Korea and Vietnam. The world he and Mary Lou traveled and worked hard to improve has changed greatly. It is heartening for those remaining to know they made a difference to many lives.
After moving to Whidbey Island in 1950 as Island County Extension Agent, Larry was instrumental in establishing the local IFYE (International Farm Youth Exchange Program) for older 4-H members. Some of these international contacts produced years of friendships. Living on Whidbey Island also became “Home Base” for Mary Lou and Larry as their travels took them to all 50 states and all seven of the world’s continents.
When Larry retired in 1971 from AID, he continued to be involved with many island activities beginning with tansy weed control, Help House, Shoreline Master Management Program, Ebey’s Landing Historical Reserve, Coupeville Lions, United Way and many other community and church related volunteer projects.
Larry’s church affiliation was always strong, beginning with his childhood church of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran in Huntersville, Ind. At Purdue, he was active in the Wesley Foundation and was a member of Coupeville United Methodist Church since 1950.
Hunting elk on the Olympic Peninsula, hiking and climbing, splitting wood, gardening and reading – along with traveling — have been strong interests of his through the years. As this is written, the animals and birds must know this strong individual – their hunter and their friend – no longer walks this earth.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Coupeville United Methodist Church, 608 N. Main Street, Coupeville, WA 98239 or to ECHO (Networking Global Hunger Solutions) 17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers, Florida 33917.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. in the church.
