Lawrence Edmond Wagoner III, “Larry,” of Lawrenceville, Illinois, died surrounded by his family at Good Samaritan Hospital of Vincennes, Indiana on January 2, 2023. He was 74.

He is survived by his children, Amanda Wagoner of St. Louis, Missouri and Nicholas Wagoner of Mountain View, California, and his sister, Penelope Wagoner of Lawrenceville, Illinois.

Larry was born on January 9, 1948 to L. Edmond Wagoner II and Kathryn (Koch) Wagoner in Flat Rock, Illinois. He grew up in Lawrenceville, then went to and graduated from the University of Illinois, where he majored in history. While at the university, he met his wife, Carol, and married her in 1969. They were married for 42 years. Carol and Larry first lived in Monticello, Illinois, where they made lifelong friends. He worked in construction and contracting, building homes and commercial buildings for a period of time, then moved the family to Glen Carbon, Illinois to pursue a career in yellow page advertising sales. He won awards for his achievements while working for telephone companies and enjoyed cultivating relationships with his colleagues and clients. The family enjoyed the company of two loving dogs over his lifetime. Larry retired and moved solo back to Lawrenceville in 2011.

His intelligence and charisma were always evident, and the sound of laughter could often be heard where he was present. Larry pursued his love of sports, the arts and history with fervor that lasted throughout his life. He could beat you in word games regularly and tell jokes like nobody else. In high school and as a young adult, he participated in the theatre. He enjoyed helping out at church, singing in church choirs and performing at their holiday concerts. He even ventured out to do lay reading at small local churches. Larry often played basketball in the driveway with his kids and neighbors, at the Edwardsville YMCA in pickup games….and as a young man, traveled locally with a good friend to officiate high school basketball. He helped out on his son’s teams coaching baseball and basketball. He played golf and fished in his other spare time. The family were always playing or watching sports together, enjoying movies, playing games, cooking and eating good food or traveling in the summers. There were special family trips to Disney World and Maui. He and Carol made sure the kids were exposed to exciting experiences and could dream about what the world could offer them while making it a better place.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to his patient, steady caregivers, Adam, Billie and Sanda, for their compassion and care over the last years of his life.

There will be a celebration of life at First United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville on Friday, April 14,  with a visitation at 11am followed by a funeral service at 12 noon and a reception. Cunningham-Young Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorials are suggested to Lawrence County Humane Society or Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.cunninghamfuneralhomes.com.

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