Lawrence Hill Meeker

1932 - 2014

Lawrence Hill Meeker passed away before midnight Monday, May 26, 2014, on Memorial Day. Funeral: Noon Saturday at University Christian Church. A reception will follow at the church. Interment: private. Memorials: The family requests in lieu of flowers that a memorial donation be made to a local charity. Larry was born in Fort Worth, the second son of Julian R. Meeker and Edna Hill Meeker, on May 4, 1932. He reached the age of 82 earlier this month. He was raised on a farm where he learned to work the land, livestock, hunt and fish. He knew the value of good work and throughout life was a man of his word. He was an accomplished angler and marksman. Larry volunteered in 1951 for the United States Air Force, where he served with distinction at K-9 Pusan as a tail gunner on a B-26 Invader completing 55 missions over North Korea. He served under Capt. Matthew Loar, a lifelong hero of his, with whom he recently reunited and visited in Florida. During his service, they successfully bombed a key bridge in North Korea cutting off a major supply route for the Communist troops; many in a long convoy were caught by this action on the narrow mountainous road leading to the bridge and were eliminated by joint American and British air forces. He was nominated for the Silver Star for his actions of this mission, which he declined feeling that more deserving men had already lost their lives. After his service to his country Larry returned to Fort Worth and attended TCU in 1953, where he met and married the most beautiful woman he'd ever met, Margaret Daniel, known to all as "Peggy." Together they raised four sons, Julian Wade Meeker and his wife, Susan, with sons, Bradley and Baylor, Daniel Hill Meeker, and one son, Taylor Meeker and two daughters, Victoria Meeker and Kathryn Meeker, David Alan Meeker and two sons, Aiden Meeker and Gavin Meeker, and James Lawrence Meeker and his wife, Kristina with son, Brandan. Larry and Peggy were a few months shy of 60 years of loving marriage together. Larry had joined his father in oil and gas exploration and production business. Working in petroleum and real estate for his entire career, he enjoyed all aspects and felt blessed to have had success that he might help others. He was a champion for human rights and worked to bring an end to segregation in Fort Worth. He was instrumental in forming the Tarrant County Junior College and worked tirelessly to rid the college of corruption in recent years when it fell under unscrupulous leadership. The many public service opportunities Larry championed include chairman, Tarrant County Junior College Campaign Committee, chairman, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce's Metropolitan Highways Committee, member of Mayor's Long Range Planning Committee Director, Fort Worth Council on World Affairs, statewide director of the Board of the Partners of the Alliance for Progress director, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce; trustee, Fort Worth Children's Museum, director, International Good Neighbor Council president and director of Future Fort Worth, director, Community Action Program, member of the Regional Citizens Committee on Intercultural Education of the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, Board, "Big Brothers" of Tarrant County, vice chairman of Fort Worth Community Relations Commission, chairman of Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center Committee, Board, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association, Board, Fort Worth Opera Combat veteran, Korean War, Member, University Christian Church. He was the 11th member of the Theta Chapter of Kappa Sigma at TCU, helping bring the organization to the university. It was said of him that he was the most Christian in his actions that one had ever known. He was always willing to help others and frequently sought out people in need. Following in his father's footsteps Larry funded college careers of several young people, many of whom went on to be successful. Larry's family takes peace in knowing he now has a glorified body in heaven, and he is with his loved ones who have preceded him in death. And we look forward to seeing him again when God calls us. Larry was a person who truly made a difference in this world and encouraged others to always try their best. He wanted everyone to know his epitaph, to be interpreted as one might read it, "...Part of the Deal."