Lawrence Ivan Kilgore May 30, 1928 – March 2, 2011
Lawrence Ivan Kilgore, son of Zenas and Eunice White Kilgore, was born May 30, 1928 at home north of Diagonal, Iowa.
Lawrence attended Diagonal high school before entering the US Navy. Lawrence later attended four years of art school. On November 23, 1946, he married Evelyn in Troy, Kansas. They moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1952 and lived there until returning in 1978. They did return to Mesa for a few years but Diagonal has been their home.
Lawrence was a pictorial artist and sign painter. His talent will live on in the work that he accomplished. Lawrence lived life to the fullest and sometimes that produced injuries. He was a pilot and even built a small plane that he flew. He flew ultra-lights and he hang-glided too. Lawrence enjoyed water-skiing and riding Harleys with Evelyn. But what Lawrence will most be remembered for is his love for other people. Lawrence had a big heart and went out of his way to help others. In Arizona, he helped the homeless with money and he would bring home whomever he trusted to eat and stay in their home. Lawrence was the Good Samaritan who helped his neighbor. Lawrence loved his family and was a loving husband, dad, grandpa and friend.
Lawrence passed away March 2, 2011 after a short stay in the Creston Nursing & Rehab Center. He was preceded in death by his parents; two great-grandchildren, and siblings, George Kilgore, Art Kilgore and Ruth Lee.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Evelyn, of Diagonal, Iowa; three children, Joyce Wright Schad and husband Larry of Creston, Iowa, Shelley Kilgore of Mesa, Arizona and Larry K. Kilgore and wife Melody of Diagonal, Iowa; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sister, Edna Parker of Diagonal, Iowa, and other relatives and friends.
Services were held at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Diagonal on Monday, March 7, 2011, with Rev. Eydie Stephens officiating. Musical selections included ‘Red Wing,’ ‘Orange Blossom Special’ and ‘You Are My Sunshine’
Casket bearers included Jason Stamps, A.J. Parker, Ryan Parrott, Ron Abbott, Larry Schad and Charles O’Kelley.
Honorary pallbearers were Mack McCall, Charlie Kilgore, ‘Little Joe’ Jordan, Larry Miller and Wayne Madden.
Lawrence was laid at rest in the Union Cemetery north of Diagonal.
