Larry D. Barden, age 78, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 9, 2025. We are certain he is now walking in heaven with his beloved Jude.

Larry, the oldest of six children, was born on December 8, 1946, in Plymouth, IN, to Robert Dean and Viola Mae (Hostetler) Barden. He was a 1964 graduate of Tyner High School in Indiana. Larry became “ONE-LEGGED LAR” Thanksgiving Day in 1967, stepping on a Bouncing Betty landmine, as a drafted soldier in the 9th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry, Company B who trained out of Fort Riley, Kansas. After some healing of the heart, mind and soul in Japan and being transferred to the famous Walter Reed Hospital of Washington D.C., he landed back home in Walkerton, IN where he decided to use the GI Bill and attend Purdue University North Central Westville Campus to study mechanical and electrical engineering and met his soul-mate, Judith Ella Reed. On their second date, she had a secret to tell him…she loved him! While in shock and awe, he had to admit that he loved his “blue-eyed, John Reed miniature-nosed, twiggy-bod, Jude”. They wed on April 8, 1972.

After graduating, Larry worked for Calumet Engineering in Gary, IN as a consultant for the US Steel Industry. Two years later, they started their family and eventually moved to Michigan, where Larry worked for CWC Castings Textron in Muskegon. In 1982, he took a job with American Motor Company-Evart Products Textron (now Ventra) where he finished his career.

Larry loved Jesus, adored his Jude, loved his country and his children/grandchildren, who were his pride and joy. Although “disabled”, Larry never let his loss of limb stop him from living life to the fullest. He conquered climbing ladders and would catapult leaps and bounds on his crutches. He loved to hunt, fish and find morel mushrooms in the springtime. He enjoyed traveling, vacationing all over the US with his family and going to his Infantry reunions at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA. Larry volunteered much of his time serving his community: at Lake Miramichi, with the Evart United Methodist Church Men's Club, LDFA, serving on the Evart Board of Education and was quite involved with the local VFW Post 7979. He was the type of man who would find the good in everyone and had such a giving heart.

Larry is survived by: his two sons, Bradley (Amy) Barden (grandchildren, Ellason and Rylin) of Midland and Ryan (Lauren) Barden (grandchildren, Amelia, Isabelle, and Everly) of Michigan City, IN; two daughters, Amanda (Brandon) Ransom (grandchildren, Jordan, Jacob (Livi), Easton and Landon) of Evart and Sarah (Chad) Trembath (grandchildren, Tyler and Cole) of Park Rapids, MN; sister, Sandra (Wayne) Rough of Walkerton, IN; two sisters-in-law, Janet Reed of Michigan City, IN and Doris Barden of Lapaz, IN; three brothers-in-law, Jack Reed of Portage, IN, Jeffrey (Sue) Reed of LaPorte, IN and Joseph (Diane) Reed of Michigan City, IN; and numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved and adored.

Larry was preceded in death by: his loving wife of nearly 53 years, Judi on Dec. 28, 2024; parents; father and mother-in-law, John and Dolores (Edgecomb) Reed; sister, Christine Moore-Barden; three brothers, Danny Barden, Duane Barden and Norman Barden; brother-in-law, Jerry Reed; sister-in-law Debbie Reed and his niece, Theresa Klingensmith.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Larry, along with his wife Judi, on April 12, 2025, at the Osceola County Fairgrounds beginning at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Larry’s name may be made to VFW post 7979 in Evart.