Vintage Photos of Lawrence "Larry" De la O

Memorial Service for Uncle Larry De La O

This past Saturday, January 23, 2010, a memorial service and a grave site visit was held at the Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles. It was a small, intimate service with family and friends including members of the American Legion, of which Larry, a U.S. Army veteran, was a member. Along with members of aunt Frances' "Panchita" family, nieces and nephews of Larry were in attendance, including, Jimmy Caldero, Gloria Jean Miramontes, Gary De La O and myself. There was also a Mariachi band that played several songs including "El Rey" which was dedicated to my uncle. Larry was buried in the Roggero family plot. The service was given by the Roggero family.

I had not seen my uncle Larry in several years. My memories of him are from years ago. He was my father's oldest brother. It pleases me to know that he found peace and happiness with aunt Panchita and that they built a life together. It became apparent during the service how much Larry meant to her family and it occurred to me that it was their loss. My condolences to the Roggero family on their loss. Rest in peace uncle Larry.

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Family Photos with Larry De La O

My father Andrew (R) with my uncle Larry circa 1960 

at our home in Santa Fe Springs, California

My father Andrew, Uncle Larry and my brother Dennis

early 1970's

Me and Dennis, Uncle Larry, my father Andrew, Uncle Jimmy
and cousin Gary De La O
The Summer of 1972

Lawrence "Larry" S. De La O Has Passed Away

Lawrence "Larry" S. De La O, 96, passed away December 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA. He is survived by his wife, best friend and companion of forty two years, Frances "Panchita" De La O.

Born in New Mexico and raised in a two-room Dona Ana adobe, Larry worked cotton and vegetable fields in the Southwest, and ran a successful shoe-shine boy operation before riding the rails to Southern California during the Great Depression. There, life as a pachuco helped develop his business skills as owner of pool halls, night clubs and pawnshops, and his talents as jeweler, ace pool shooter and expert card player (including work as a Nevada casino pit boss). An extraordinary musician, dancer, singer and entertainer, he played any number of instruments by ear, joining mariachi groups and forming personal friendships with Mexico's Golden Age entertainment stars, including José Alfredo Jíménez, TinTan, Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete. (José Alfredo dedicated his masterpiece "El Rey" to Larry.) An Army veteran, a man with a genius memory and an unbounded sense of humor, a prolific creative joke-teller, a loving husband and caring dad and grandfather, a generous humanitarian at heart, and life-long friend of members of the Raymond Apodaca Family of Las Cruces and the Fountain Family of Old Mesilla. Larry is and will be greatly missed. He was "one of a kind".
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at Calvary Mortuary 4201 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90023, 323-261-3106. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Legion.

Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on January 17, 2010

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