Larry Fullenwider

Larry Fullenwider, long time resident of Idaho Falls, Idaho, died peacefully on November 23, 2021, in Olympia, Washington, where he was living with his daughter, Maria.

Larry was born November 6, 1943 to Erle and Helen Fullenwider of New Sweden, Idaho.  He grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  From an early age, he loved cars and spent much of his teenage years fixing and racing them. He was in the auto mechanic program at Idaho Falls High School, where he graduated. He competed in several competitions, including taking 2nd place with his teammate in the State Auto Mechanic Competition. He was a member of the Stokers Car Club in Idaho Falls and enjoyed drag racing his 1956 Chevy.

Larry joined the Air Force in 1963 and trained as an Aircraft Mechanic. He served 2 tours in the Vietnam War where he was stationed primarily in Thailand and Japan as part of the Tactical Fighter Squadron. On 27 Jan 1967, he was Honorably Discharged at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada.

On Dec 9, 1973, he married Eileen Justine Whalen and adopted her children Matthew, Patrick, Maria and Clancy. The family moved to Idaho Falls/Firth, Idaho, where Heleen was born to the new couple.

Larry was the owner of Firth Service Station and Car Wash where he repaired, rebuilt, and kept the wheels on many of the vehicles in the community. Keeping his kids in cars was a full-time job.  From blown motors and transmissions to telephone pole collisions (and the rollover incident in the desert with a box of knives flying loose), Larry acted as if he had never wrecked a car himself….but, Grandpa Erle shared the stories!

Larry loved fishing at Birch Creek, hunting, and snowmobiling in the Wolverine Canyon foothills. He traded his fishing and hunting gear for a golf club during the years he spent in Florida and Arizona and became an avid and well-polished golfer. The golf course was his paradise.

Larry was a hard worker and expected the same from others. He was stoic and serious, even feared by some, but, loved and respected as a man who lived his life as he saw best and blessed the lives of many along the way.

Larry is survived by his sons, Matthew Thomas Fullenwider (Holly), Patrick Kernan Fullenwider (Kimberly), daughters, Maria Christine Hetland (Todd) and Heleen Louise Wittusen, sister, Betty "Ann" Prestwich, brother, Brent Fullenwider, and Eileen Fullenwider (div). John Clancy Fullenwider, son and parents Erle and Helen Fullenwider, preceded him in death.

His family will gather for a memorial service on June 18, 2022, at the New Sweden Cemetery, New Sweden, where he will be laid to rest.