Larry A. Gammill

Annabella, Utah - Lawrence Gammill, age 83, passed away on July 19, 2016, surrounded by his loving family in Richfield, Utah. He was born March 28, 1933 in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, son of Rass Lawrence and Ruth Alleyne Halford Gammill. He graduated from Mesa High School in Grand Junction, Colorado. He met the love of his life, LaDonna Ruth Gibbons, in Green River, Utah, while prospecting for uranium for the Atomic Energy Commission. They were married on June 26, 1954 in Green River, Utah. They moved immediately to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where Larry completed Army basic training. After finishing his military service, they returned to Colorado. They later moved to Michigan, and then back to Colorado as Larry pursued his engineering career. Larry and LaDonna were blessed with 4 children beginning in 1956. He was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully the remainder of his life. Larry and LaDonna were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple November 26, 1958. Larry loved the outdoors and traveled extensively to pursue his hunting and fishing interests. He was a master carver of gunstocks. His carving skills were second to none. He was a gifted engineer and inventor, with an innate sense for mechanical systems. Although he was not formally educated in engineering, he rose to prominence at Bendix Aerospace in Michigan, where, among other things, he designed a science pack that was taken to the moon on an Apollo mission. From Bendix he moved to Hewlett Packard in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he spent the bulk of his career designing oscilloscopes. After retirement, Larry and LaDonna moved to Annabella, where Larry became involved in working for the good of his community. Above all else, Larry loved and treasured his family. “A little family to be proud of” was what he called us. No sacrifice was too great, and all sacrifices were made without fanfare or apparent effort, just as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Each of his children earned a college degree, supported and largely paid for by Larry and LaDonna. Larry is survived by his beloved wife, LaDonna, and his children: Trudy (Brian) Witt of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Cindy (Phil) Hulet of South Jordan, Utah, Kurt (Cathy) Gammill of Layton, Utah and Melinda (Doug) Hunt of Queen Creek, Arizona. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Ruth; his brother John and John’s wife Mary Lou. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. in the Annabella 1st LDS Ward Chapel. Friends may call for viewing at the Springer Turner Funeral Home in Richfield, Friday evening form 6 to 8 P.M. or at the ward chapel in Annabella, Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 prior to the services. Burial with military honors accorded by the Monroe American Legion Post #37 and the Utah Honor Guard will be in the Annabella Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.