Larrell Walters was born July 1956 to Lois and Forrest Walters. The family, including older brother Darrell ‘Doug’ and younger brother Gerald, lived in Indian Lake, Ohio.  In 1963 they suffered the tragic loss of Forrest in an automobile accident. After Lois married Glen Hites, brother Dale was born.

When Larrell was a teenager, his family moved to Pandora, Ohio where he graduated from Pandora-Gilboa High School in 1974. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in Computer Science, he married Patricia ‘Pat” Roberts in 1978. They later welcomed sons Nathaniel (1982) and Brandon (1985).

Larrell had a varied employment history. He was proud to have been a full-time restaurant cook at the Commodore’s Club at age 13, worked a dairy herd with Glen HItes, and was a school janitor.  Later he worked on the Sandusky docks for General Mills, student taught at Toledo Catholic, was employed by Kodak in Rochester, NY, and worked for Goodyear in Akron, before relocating to BF Goodrich in Troy. At Goodrich, he excelled and moved from the IT Department into management, eventually becoming the V.P. of Wheel and Brake Services. Larrell earned his MBA from Kent State University in 1985.

After many years at BFG, Larrell was President of Litton Electronics, and V.P. at Gem City Engineering, before starting at the University of Dayton Research Institute. At UDRI, he created IDCast, a national center of excellence in advanced sensor technologies. In 2007, he was named Division Head of UDRI’s new Sensor Systems Division.  In March of this year, Larrell joined Universal Technology Corporation of Beavercreek to start a new Technology Commercialization Division as the Senior Director of Commercial Products.

Larrell enjoyed many community and philanthropic pursuits, including Daybreak Dayton teen shelter and services, and the Downtown Dayton Partnership.  He coached ice hockey, including Troy youth Sabres and Bruins, Troy High School Trojans, and the University of Dayton Flyers. Larrell pursued many hobbies, including photography, beekeeping, golf, and woodworking. Larrell recently took part in a mission trip through Tipp City United Methodist Church to Guatemala City, where he planned to boost an existing outreach of micro-loans for entrepreneurs. The Family is asking that in lieu of gifts or flowers, to consider donations to the Guatemala mission through Tipp City UMC (8 W Main St – 45371).

Larrell’s family was his pride and joy and he loved spending time with them. In December 1993 he married his second wife, Susan Ellis.  In 1997 he and Susan travelled to eastern Ukraine where they adopted twins they named Eli and Ellie.  Together they enjoyed travel, most recently to Germany where Larrell spoke at the 10th International Aerospace conference.

Larrell is survived by his wife Susan, daughter Ellie, son Eli, son and daughter-in-law Nathan and Melissa, newborn grandson Toby, son and daughter-in-law Brandon and Alexandra, and grandchildren Lizzie, Ben, and John.  He is also survived by his mother and step-father, Lois and Roger Thompson, siblings Doug (Shirley) and Gerald (Michele) Walters, Dale (Nancy) Hites, step-siblings Marsha, Danny, and David Hites, and Steve (Wendy) Thompson, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Forrest, step-father Glen, and step-sister Brenda Thompson.  

The family will receive visitors at Tipp City United Methodist Church on Friday, April 22nd, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, immediately followed by a memorial service in the sanctuary.

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