Larry Paul “Wally” Waldruff, of Mansfield, passed away Thursday morning, March 7, 2024 at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital following a lengthy illness. He was just eight days shy of his 81st birthday.
Larry was born March 15, 1943 in Shelby to the late Carl R. and Rhea I. (Hartz) Waldruff. A 1961 graduate of Shelby High School, he then attended The Ohio State University for business courses. On November 23, 1963 he married the former Gloria Y. Hockenberry. Throughout his life Wally had been employed at Shelby Mutual Insurance Company prior to starting as a foreman at Therm-O-Disc in Mansfield. A job for ICI Acrylics moved the family to St. Louis, MO before returning to Mansfield once again to Therm-O-Disc where, in total, he worked for 22 years primarily in production and inventory management. He later retired from Mansfield Plumbing in Perrysville.
For Wally, his loves could be specifically ordered: family, being near water, MG cars, and ice cream. His obvious first love was family: his wife of 60 years: Gloria; his sons: Scott (Paula) Waldruff of Mansfield and Andy (Heather) Waldruff of Shelby; his grandchildren: Ethan Waldruff (fiancé, Kourtney Van Wagner), Morgan Waldruff, Max Waldruff, and Preston Waldruff; his brother: Dan Waldruff of Shelby; his late sister: Lola Kay Winningham; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relative and friends.
In addition to his family, time spent near any body of water was a plus including their lake home on Crooked Lake in Angola, IN. He had a passion for MG cars, having numerous throughout his life, but, in particular, he loved his 1953 MG TD he restored with his brother-in-law: Steve. And, naturally, a day ending with ice cream always made for a success.
Family and friends are welcome on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 1-3 pm at the Penwell Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, Ohio 44875 where funeral services will immediately follow at 3pm. Pastor Steve Burkhalter will officiate the services. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Shelby. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org/donate) or Hospice of North Central Ohio (hospiceofnorthcentralohio.org/support-us/donate-to-hnco).
Online condolences may be left on Wally’s obituary on the funeral home’s website (PenwellTurner.com) or their Facebook page (Faceook.com/PenwellFuneral).
Funeral Home: Penwell Turner Funeral Home
Website: https://penwellturner.com/