Larry Thomas Fitzpatrick

Larry entered into rest at home in Grass Valley, CA, May 11, 2008.
Loving husband of fifty-two years of Cecelia K. Fitzpatrick of Grass
Valley, CA. Beloved father of James L. (Phyllis) Fitzpatrick of Lakeview,
OR, Daniel T. Fitzpatrick of Encinitas, CA, Michael J. (Jill) Fitzpatrick of
Nevada City, CA and Gary L. (Kaysie) Fitzpatrick of Coto de Caza, CA. Adored
grandfather of six. Also survived by one sister; Dolores Cottingham of El
Cerrito, CA and numerous nieces and nephews. A native of Santa Rosa, CA, age
82 years. Larry is preceded in death by his parents; Lawrence and Lavina
Fitzpatrick (McLain), three sisters; Kathleen Hail, Jeannie Pisenti and
Lorene Happ.
Larry is a graduate of Santa Rosa High School, Class of 1944. He was
inducted into the U.S. Army, serving in Europe in the 60th Armored Infantry
Battalion of the 9th Armored Division as a machine gunner during WWII and
awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Following his service time, he attended Santa
Rosa Junior College and the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. Larry
and his wife moved to Selma, CA in 1968, where he remained active in the
funeral industry and Cecelia taught school. Soon thereafter, they became
proprietors in the Dry Cleaning Business. Larry served as President of the
Selma Chamber of Commerce for two years and on the Selma City Council for
four years, two of them as Mayor. He was also on the Board of Directors of
the Selma Rotary Club and once named Selma Citizen of the Year. Retirement
called for a move to Grass Valley, but Larry remained involved serving as
Foreman on the Nevada County Civil Grand Jury from 1996 to 1999.
Larry’s many extracurricular activities and honors include: Lay Minister
at St. Joseph’s Church in Selma and Holy Family Church in Kingsburg; Charter
Member of Holy Family Council No.9213; Kingsburg Knights of Columbus; Past
President of the American Field Service, the Selma High School Parents Club
and the Selma Lions Club. He also served on the Selma District Hospital
Board of Directors and the City of Selma Personnel Commission. Larry was
also appointed to serve on the Affirmative Action Committee for Fresno City
College and Kings River Community Colleges.
Family and friends are invited to meet and attend a Funeral Mass
on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. at the Cathedral of St. Eugene
(Corner of Farmer’s Lane and Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, CA, 95405).
Interment will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. LAFFERTY & SMITH
COLONIAL CHAPEL (4321 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409) will provide
visitation hours on Friday, May 16, 2008 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. with a
Vigil Service conducted at 7:00 P.M. in the main chapel. As an expression of
sympathy, memorial contributions in Larry’s memory are preferred to Hospice
of the Foothills, 12399 Nevada City Hwy, Grass Valley, CA, 95945.
Arrangements entrusted to:
LAFFERTY & SMITH COLONIAL CHAPEL,
Directors (707)539-2921