Larry Edinger:
CLASS OF 1967
Danville High SchoolClass of 1967
Danville, IL
Larry's Story
Born Dec 1949 and came home in a dress. Even the kids with wicky wackers came home in a dress, just so U don’t think I’m confused on my orientation.
Ya got to have a sense of HUMOR … the world would be heck of a place without it.
My parents + 3 siblings went thru the depression and WW2 together – dad volunteer for the Seebee in WW2 and brother Norman went to Korea, just after I was born and brother Alfred did a career in the Navy. After the war came 1 more brother and ME. I grew up in strict, very loving, Christian home. Going from 2 farms with 5 horses, 1 cow, 3 sows, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 300 sheep and 15,000 laying hens, hunt/fish by myself at 9 yr old, to 2802 East Road Danville Illinois AT 12 YR OLD was A CULTURAL SHOCK & TERRIBLE.
Starting school in Danville, half way thru 7th grade. The folks at North Ridge put me in Speech therapy – I learned to pronounce words correctly and stopped stuttering. My acceptance of the move took a long time – at one point brother Norman loaned me an 85cc Allstate motorcycle and I rode without a license [me or the bike, at age 13] – WOW. I was use to the riggers of farm life so I got work mowing yards, pulling Tray & Skeet, run a 6 bay car wash, trimming trees and anything that came along. Kids like Kenny Penrod, Gail Hinton and other sure made a BIG difference – I guess I started to see that moving was a good thing for me and the family – Pennsylvania farm life in the 50’s was no picnic. Next thing ya know I was really liking Danville.
Girls and me got along – geez did I like the girls, but I was a bungling idiot. There is a certain young lady that I wish I could turn the clock back to 1967 again. Very BIG regret. If she ever reads this – she knows a lot about spider spray.
I sure like Mr. Volkel, and in spite of that so & so Mrs. Bailey, I made it to graduation at about middle of the class. Guidance counselor thought I was joking when I said English would be my foreign language, when I went to college – but I was serious. In spite of Mrs. Bailey, I became a good engineer.
After HS, Trade school in Milwaukee, DJC in Engineering, Navy Electrician 69-73, Tool Maker Apprenticeship – ultimately ended up with the Federal Dept of Justice and a 25 yr career – teaching inmates various trades and engineering skills. I certainly had a BLESSED career – in spite of lock downs, riots, and the riggers of prison life.
After retirement...Expand for more
, I got divorced [which is why I'm limited on pictures and money – but divorce was worth it. Lost a son, but have 3 nice children and 4 nice grandchildren. I remarried a PA farm girl, so I inherited 2 more nice daughter + 6 nice grandchildren. In 2004 moved onto 6+ acres outside of a small town call New Columbia … 1 dog, 1 cat, property has had wild turkeys hatching, deer staying regularly over night, a bear with her cub. In 2006 built a new house at the back of the property, added a barn in 2014. While working the docks at a nation wide freight company, I finally slowed down some and in Feb 2017 I retired from full time employment – I still work part time to feed my need for the extras – but maybe I’ll quit going to gun auctions some day. I had my cataracts removed and have the eyes of a 16 yr old, Doc says I got diabetes – so I’m on the pill, I left a knee in Izmir Turkey – but I gimp along okay.
With a very rich heritage on both sides including veterans, doctor, school teachers, farmers, explosive expert, plasterer, milk tester, tree grafter and dad’s grandmother a Blackfoot Sioux [orphaned in the Indian wars – adopted by Christian family in PA], my parents older than most of Ur grandparents and many good people along the trail of life is how I ended up me.
I’m a Christian – God and I have a VERY special relationship [seriously]. I'm frugal and conservative to the core. I stick up for those that need it – believe we are responsible for what we do AND what we don’t do. I live my life by a simple set of standards and guidelines – based on the Bible. I have my quirks - so do U, My life is FULL of good memories, but I've got my share of sorrow and/or regret. I tried to always look forward but remember the past so it can help in the future. I don’t and won’t do social media. I always have a story.
Guess I’ve got a bucket list, but my biggest wish is that when I don’t know my kids names and/or I can not go to the outhouse alone – it’s time for God to punch my ticket- in the blink of an eye I hope :) - but until then I’m going to live each day to the very best I can … and my wish for U is that Ur in heaven 3 days before the devil knows Ur gone … GOD BLESS THOSE THAT READ THIS – I probably know/knew you and would certainly enjoy meeting U all over again at the 2018 Reunion – 50+ is a long time.
Look me up at the 2018 Reunion – class of 67 and 68 - Eddie.
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