Lawrence W. Larry Derr, 93, of Decatur, Indiana passed away Wednesday April 7th. He was born on October 29, 1916 in Akron, Ohio. Larry graduated from Oberlin College and Case Western Reserve University with a Masters of Science in Social Services. He retired in 1978 from Fort Wayne State Hospital with eleven years of service as a psychiatric social work and had previously been employed by the YMCA for twenty-five years. As a life-long pacifist, he served in Civilian Public Service for several years, with the National Forest Service, as an aide in a psychiatric institution, and as a sea-going cowboy transporting horses to Poland and Italy as part of the rebuilding effort after WWII. He moved to Fort Wayne in 1956 to establish the Old Fort Branch of the YMCA, serving as its first executive secretary, running the local day camp and Gray Y basketball programs. A public servant to the core, he was active in the Civil Rights movement for several decades beginning in the 1940s. He continued faithfully serving his local communities through his church and other civic organizations. Throughout his life he had a deep appreciation of the natural world. He especially enjoyed sailing and traveling with his family. After his retirement he and his wife, Gladys, moved to New Hampshire, and later lived in New York and Ohio before returning to Decatur in 2001. He was a member of the St. Marks United Methodist Church in Decatur. Larrys dear wife of 31 years, Gladys Derr, passed away in December 2009. He is survived by his children and step-children: Marilyn Derr, Barbara Derr and Katherine Schoelkopf, Cheryl and Jerry Kelsey, James Darr and Saralyn Porter, and Stuart Crabill. He is also survived by his step-grandchildren: Dave (Sharon) Crabill, Tony Crabill, Debra Kelsey, Lisa (Kelby) Pickford, Julie (James) Noble, Steven Darr & J.J. Darr; 11 step-great-grandchildren, a niece, nephews and cousins, and his previous wife, Fran Headings. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, and a step-daughter, Judith Crabill. A memorial service will be held Saturday April 10, 2010 at 10:30 in the Woodcrest Chapel, 1300 Mercer Avenue Decatur, Indiana, Rev. Michael Heinbaugh officiating. Family will receive friends from 9:30 until time of the service. Preferred memorials are to the Central Branch of the YMCA in Fort Wayne, or American Friends Service Committee 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102. His cremated remains will be buried in Westwood Cemetery, Oberlin, Ohio.
