LAWRENCE HAUSWIRTH DOYLE

Reverend Lawrence Hauswirth Doyle passed away on March 24, 2018. While living in the central valley, he served as pastor at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Fresno, CA, and the United Methodist Church in Lemoore, CA. Rev. Doyle also served as a chaplain in the United States Navy Reserve from which he retired as a Captain. Just after the end of World War II, while on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, Corporal Larry Doyle met Nurse Trainee Glen Caspers in San Francisco, CA, although both were from Wisconsin. They were married at the Central Methodist Church in San Francisco, by Reverend Arne Neilson, who served as a mentor and guided Larry into the ministry. Larry attended the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, and was ordained a deacon of the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served for 30 plus years as a pastor of churches in both California and Nevada. At the beginning of the Viet Nam War, Reverend Doyle returned to active duty for three years, as a Chaplain in the United States Navy. He then returned to the ministry while continuing as a Chaplain in the Navy Reserve for an additional 25 years. While serving as the pastor in Windsor, CA, Reverend Doyle was drawn to the work of a nearby cartoonist, Charles Schultz, and the Peanuts character Snoopy was often incorporated into his sermons. Over the next 60 years, Larry gathered books, tee shirts and artifacts of the beloved character and had his favorite Snoopy pal on his bed when he passed away. Rev. Doyle took iconoclastic roles in the church, wearing turtleneck sweaters and heavy crosses during the 1960s, all while maintaining his signature military buzz cut. He became one of the first pastors to support gay colleagues' right to be married in the church, which was against church doctrine at the time. However, his most heartfelt changes came at his retirement when at 62, he switched traditional family gender roles, and moved to Fresno to support his wife Glen in her career as a California State University, Fresno faculty member where she started the Gerontology program. During this same time, he stepped in and became "Grumpy Grandpa," providing many hours of before and after school care for his grandsons. During his retirement, Rev. Doyle was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church supporting both congregational members and pastoral leaders, most often behind the scenes and without any fanfare. He also thoroughly enjoyed working with Volunteers in Mission of the United Methodist Church, which took him from Zimbabwe to St. Petersburg, and from Ireland to Alabama. At his passing, his care givers at San Joaquin Terraces spoke about how warm, funny and generous Rev. Doyle had been, even in trying times. The family wishes to thank all those at the Terraces for their care of Larry; and to the team from Hinds Hospice for the support provided. Rev. Doyle was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Glen Lucille Caspers Doyle, Ed.D., a Professor Emerita at California State University, Fresno. Rev. Doyle and Professor Doyle are survived by four children, Lawrence Hilmar Doyle and Luann Wilkerson of Austin, TX, Michael Wesley Doyle of Sacramento, CA, GlenRuth Penny Carroll and husband Tom of Clovis, CA, and Carol Maren Doyle and Margaret Eichler of Portland, OR; three grandchildren, Thomas Carroll and wife Stephanie, Philip Carroll and wife Pailey, and Casie Silvia and husband David; and three great-grandchildren, Lola Carroll, Wesley Carroll, and Keats Carroll. A Service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Fresno, CA, on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church; or directed to actions that make the world a better place. As Reverend Doyle always said, "May the love of Christ be with you always and all ways."