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Larry Nelson
ANTHONY, Kan. — Larry L. Nelson was born April 10, 1933, in the little town of Newcastle; and 89 years later, he died Jan. 19, 2023, in his home in Anthony, Kan. He was the first of six children born to Oscar and Ann (Vollers) Nelson. His parents were tenant farmers there, and later, moved to the Laurel area, where he attended school, graduating from Laurel High School in 1950. Larry later joined the United States Air Force and was stationed McConnell Air Force base in Wichita, Kan., where he served as a flightline mechanic on the B-47 bombers. During his service in Kansas, Larry met Shirley Standifer at a drive-in diner and it was love at first sight for him. After dating a short time, Larry and Shirley eloped Jan. 1,1956, to be married in a little chapel in Conway, Ark., that had been attended by her grandparents.
They welcomed their first son, David, in March of 1957, and the next year, Larry was honorably discharged from the military with a final rank of Staff Sergeant. The family moved to Concord, where he worked for the University of Nebraska as a livestock foreman at the Northeast Nebraska experiment station. One year later, they returned to Wichita, Kan., to work with Shirley’s parents at their restaurant called Orville’s Coffee Cup. In 1961, they purchased the restaurant, changing the name to Nelson’s Coffee Cup; a 24/7 business that they operated for 10 years. Their second son, Jon, was born in August 1963, and two years later the family moved to a small farm in Mulvane, Kan. They sold the Coffee Cup, and the farm to move to Anthony, Kan., in 1972, after purchasing a little diner called Mark’s Grill. Larry had a vision for growth and designed and executed an expansion to the little diner and in 1975 he opened the newly expanded restaurant as Nelson’s Restaurant, a thriving business he operated until his retirement.
Larry lost the love of his life Nov. 12, 2014. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Ann; and two brothers, Philip Nelson and Richard Nelson.
He is survived by brothers: Loren (Connie) of Elgin, and Monte (Gana) of Mesa, Ariz.; sister, Corrine (Don) Casey, Yankton, S.D.; sons, David (Ginny) Nelson, Wichita, Kan., and Jon (Lona) Nelson, Gardner, Kan.; grandchildren, Loren (Tasha) Nelson, Nik (Sarah Palubinski) Nelson, Niki Smith, Naythan Smith, LaRissa (Jess) Westmoreland, and Spencer Nelson; as well as seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial service was held Jan. 28, 2023, at the Revolution Fellowship, Anthony.
Memorials in memory of Larry may be made to the Revolution Fellowship Church and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.
