Obituary of Larry Pitzer

Frederick “Larry” Pitzer passed away on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 3:00 pm at the Medical Center of Aurora. Larry was born June 3, 1951 in Burlington, IA to Frederick W. and Thelma M. (Sinn) Pitzer. He was the oldest of three children, having a brother John and sister LeAnn. The family lived in Burlington until 1968, when they moved to Glendale, CA. Larry graduated from Glendale High School in 1969. Larry had an interest in printing, and helped set up and start the Glendale High School Printing Classroom. After graduation he went to work for Jostens in Fresno, CA printing high school yearbooks for various schools. Later he found his way into becoming a hair dresser and worked at this for many years. In 1980, Larry’s parents purchased some land in the Chaparral, west of Agate, and he and his father started to build a dome house. In 1982, Larry’s father Fred moved back to CA and Larry remained at the house they built. That year he also met his future wife Gail (Benjamin) McClain through the Agate School where Larry was a School Bus Driver. In 1984, Larry and Gail were married in Denver, CO, and Larry gained daughter Amy Lynn McClain from this union. They resided in Agate for the remainder of the time. Over the years, Larry had several jobs, he worked for the Eastern Colorado Newspaper, the My Reflection Beauty Shop, Agate Transport, and then eventually worked with his wife at the Agate Mutual Telephone Office for the remaining 23 years, until he retired in May of 2013. Larry was a past member of the North Central Fire Prevention District, an active member of the Agate Mutual Telephone Board of Directors, and an active member of the Kansas City Barbeque Society, and the Rocky Mountain BBQ Association, where he was a judge in BBQ competitions all over Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, and California. Larry was also an avid photographer, loved watching the Broncos, and enjoyed time with his family. Larry is preceded in death by his wife, Gail, his parents and father-in-law Robert Benjamin. He is survived by his mother-in-law Reba Benjamin and daughter Amy (Eric) Noah of Agate, CO; Brother John (Kathi) Pitzer, of Lakewood, CO, Sister LeAnn (Richard) Rollins, of Murrieta, CA, Brother-in-Law Don (Stephanie) Benjamin of Goodland, KS; and Nieces and Nephews- Amy Brusca, Kendra (Chris) Minich; Nathan (Angela) Pitzer, Aaron (Cristine) Pitzer, and Brian Benjamin. He also had several great-nieces and nephews, family and friends.