Lawrence Thomas Byrnes

Lawrence Thomas Byrnes, age 89, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Friday, August 4^th, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Larry was born March 8^th, 1934 in Visalia, California to Thomas and Annette (Chapman) Byrnes.  

Larry grew up in Coalinga, California where he was an active high school youth, participating in sports, music and acting, and always had a job.  He graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1952 and immediately enlisted in the Army where he trained to be a Chinese Linguist at the Army Language School in Monterey.  Serving his country overseas for 3 years during and after the Korean War, his lifelong appreciation of the Asian cultures began.  

Larry studied business at San Jose State University after the war and worked in the business field when he met his future bride in 1962.  Larry married Vivian Tanghe in 1964 and began raising a family in the East Bay.  Moving to Arnold in 1972, he began a financial consulting business, was a dedicated family man and a highly active community member.  Larry was a people person and humble servant with a love for music.  His musical endeavors included playing the trumpet in the Fanfare Four Brass Quartet for 20+ years, playing in the community band, singing baritone for the Dapper Dandies Barber Shop Quartet and the Columbia College Community Choir.  He engaged others with his membership in the Toast-Masters Public Speaking Club.  Larry served as a board member on the Blue Lake Springs HOA, and was a member of Chapel in the Pines Community Church.  

After raising his family he moved to Murphys, California  in 1994 and was a popular member of the Angels-Murphys Rotary Club where he served in various capacities, including club president.  In 2020 he and Vivian moved to Angels Camp where they stayed until moving to Salt Lake City in 2022.  Larry had an unusually engaging and optimistic personality, and people were drawn to him with his conversational skills.  Wherever he went, people liked him.  Days before his passing, he began a chess club at his senior living home.  Staying true to his spirit, he was giving thanks from his hospital bed and telling jokes to the nursing staff as they cared for him during his last hours.  They all lined the hallway to silently pay their respects with a US Veteran Flag Ceremony when he was finally called home.

Larry cared deeply about his family and friends, and was always respectful of differing viewpoints and appreciated learning about others.  He leaves behind his wife Vivian, daughter Lisa Byrnes (Robert Stephenson), son Jonathan (Lily) Byrnes, grandchildren Andrew (Melody) Weathers and Tucker (Colleen) Weathers, great grandchildren Theodore Weathers and Nora Weathers, brother Dennis (Rosalee) Byrnes, niece Michelle (Ron) Bryant, nephews Matthew (Dawn, daughters Lilia and Erin) Byrnes, Michael (Michelle) Byrnes and family, and Mark (Suzanne) Byrnes and family.  He is predeceased by his brother Charles Byrnes and his eldest daughter Lori Weathers (2020).

All who knew him are welcome to attend a graveside service to be held on Monday, August 14^th, 2023 at 1pm at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.  A small reception will follow at Capitol Hill Assisted Living in Salt Lake City.