Larry R. Waggoner

Larry R. Waggoner, 90, of Robinson, IL, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 26, 2025, in the comfort of his home. Born on February 23, 1935, in Lawrenceville, IL, Larry grew up in the bottoms at Pinkstaff, where hunting and fishing weren’t just pastimes. They were how the family put food on the table. Life was simple, and it was hard, but it formed in him a quiet resilience and a strong work ethic that never left him. His family moved to Robinson during his freshman year, and though he planned to play varsity football right away, a burst appendix set him back. He didn’t return to full strength until his junior or senior year, and although he never got to play, he remained a passionate sportsman.

After graduating from Robinson High School in 1952, Larry went to work for L.S. Heath & Sons in ice cream production, then answered his country’s call and joined the U.S. Army. From 1954 to 1956, he was stationed in Germany, serving as a mechanic and earning a sharpshooting medal. He was discharged from the Reserves in 1962. When he came home, he returned to Heath for another seven years before earning an electrician’s degree from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. That led him to Adams Electric and, soon after, to Marathon Oil Company, where he spent the next 23 years. He worked in Litchfield, MI, before transferring to the Robinson plant, eventually retiring as foreman over the wastewater treatment facility. Retirement, however, was only a technicality. Larry kept working at Inboden Seeds, and even then, the younger guys had a hard time keeping up!

Hard work was simply part of his DNA. He didn’t cut corners. He showed up early. He did the job right. Whether he was wiring a panel, fixing something around the house, or laying out perfectly straight rows in his garden, Larry approached it all with quiet precision and pride. He built the addition to his house with his own hands, and his garden, well, it was the envy of just about everyone who saw it! Rows of vegetables, patches of flowers, and not a weed in sight. He especially loved fresh tomatoes and corn on the cob. The fruits of his labor were shared generously and always tasted like summer.

Larry was a man of strong convictions and a soft heart. He could be a little ornery, but in the best way. He loved to tease and poke and give people a hard time just to make them smile. At Marathon, he was famous for practical jokes. At home, he could turn even a backyard game of croquet or horseshoes into a heated family championship. That competitive spark carried over into his deep love for hunting and fishing. He was especially passionate about deer and turkey hunting and was one of the area’s earliest bowhunters. In 1965, he and his dad drove all the way to Champaign just to get their licenses! But it wasn’t just the sport. It was the camaraderie, the tradition, and the quiet mornings in the woods with people he loved.

And Larry loved deeply. He loved the Cubs, the Bears, and the University of Illinois. He loved coaching his boys’ baseball teams and cheering on his grandkids from the sidelines. But most of all, he loved his family. He married his sweetheart, Kaye Zellers, on September 14, 1958, and for nearly 67 years, they shared a partnership built on fidelity and devotion. Together, they raised a family that Larry led with integrity and care. He was a faithful husband, a wise and loving father, a proud and involved grandfather, and a steady friend.

Still, the greatest love of Larry’s life was the Lord. His faith wasn’t something he wore on his sleeve; it was something rooted deep within him. He served faithfully at Porterville Congregational Christian Church as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, trustee, and caretaker. If the church doors were open, Larry was there. He mowed the lawn, fixed what was broken, and poured himself into the lives of children who came to know him as a spiritual father. Their names were written in the pages of his Bible and prayed over for years. He loved bluegrass gospel, read his Bible daily, and lived a life of quiet spiritual leadership. He showed his family what it meant to follow Jesus, not just on Sundays, but in everyday faithfulness.

Simply put, he lived a life that honored God, served others, and left things better than he found them. And now, after a life well-lived, we trust that he has heard the words he longed for: “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

Larry’s legacy is carried on by his wife, Kaye Waggoner; his children, Brenda (Dave) Cowdrey and Mark (Melissa) Waggoner; his daughter-in-law, LaDonna Waggoner; his grandchildren, Jonathan Waggoner, Kaylie (Zak) Walls, Jayce Waggoner, Whitney (Eric) Welch, Brooke Midgett (Jacob), and Mack (Leah) Waggoner; and his step-grandchildren, Megan (Mike) O’Neal and Matthew (Callie) Babyak. His great-grandchildren include Khloe, Kynlie, and Evelyn Walls; Bentley and Cayden Waggoner; Ronan, Sawyer, and Tegan Midgett; Jocelyn, Aiden, and Kaysen Welch; and Adalyn and Rhett Waggoner. His step-great-grandchildren include Rhianna Moss and Ella and Silas Babyak. He also leaves behind his sister, Karen Waggoner; his sisters-in-law, Faye Stanfield, Reta Waggoner, Jackie Waggoner, and Peggy Waggoner; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph & Lola (Hill) Waggoner; his siblings, Loretta Foust (and her husband, Don), Darrell Waggoner, and Wayne Waggoner; his son, Craig Waggoner; his grandson, Codey Wayne Waggoner; and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Gary & Shirley Zellers, and Gene & Martha Zellers.

A time of visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 1st at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson. Funeral services will immediately follow and be held at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor David Vaughn officiating. Burial will be in the Kirk Cemetery, where military honors will be conducted by the combined units of the U.S. Army, Robinson V.F.W. Post #4549, the Robinson American Legion Post #69, and the Flat Rock American Legion Post #132.

In honor of his heart for children, memorial contributions may be made to either New Hebron Christian School or the Oblong Children’s Christian Home, with envelopes available at the funeral home.