Larry Dean Ethridge

Larry Dean Ethridge, 74, of Manhattan, Kansas passed from this life September 22, 2018 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. He was born January 22, 1944 in Salina, Kansas to Robert Eugene and Irene Fern (Greene) Ethridge. He was the third of four children born to them. Larry was raised in Ada, Kansas and graduated from Ada High School in 1962. He attended Sterling and Fort Hays colleges, but left school to work at Brown and Brown Construction, Tescott Cheese Factory, and the Eldorado Corporation where he became a supervisor in Minneapolis, Kansas. He worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone (now AT&T) from 1966 until his retirement in 2001. He held several titles and was a district manager when he retired.

Larry enjoyed fishing, boating, traveling, and camping in his R.V. He liked to attend local car races. He had several hunting dogs and was very talented in breeding and training them. He loved to garden and always had a beautiful yard with flowers. Larry and his wife Donna moved around a lot with his job, finally settling in Manhattan, Kansas where he built their home at Tuttle Creek Lake. He was a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers, Good Sams Club, and the Sunrise Presbyterian Church.

Larry married his wife Donna Jean (Bell) over 50 years ago at the Salina Presbyterian Church. She survives of the home. He is also survived by a son, Troy (Tammy) Ethridge of Salina; a daughter, Denise (Dennis) Ensley of Topeka; grandchildren Emily, Lauren, and Jacob Ensley; a favorite cousin, Gale (Irma) Ethridge of Glasgow; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents Robert and Irene Ethridge, one brother, and two sisters.

Larry's wish was to be cremated with a private family memorial to be held at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church of Manhattan, the Heart Association, or the AT&T Telephone Pioneers. Send memorials to: Bennington State Bank, Larry Ethridge Memorial, P.O. Box 308, Bennington, Kansas 67422-0308.