Larry DeVaughn Engelhart

1939 - 2016

Larry DeVaughn Engelhart, 77, died Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth. Interment: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Memorials: Westminster Presbyterian Church Music Program, 7001 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth, Texas, 76133 or one's choice of charity. Larry was born Jan. 24, 1939, in Ellsworth, Kan., to Herman and Ruth nee Dove Engelhart. He grew up in Oklahoma, played French horn and was drum major in the El Reno High School band with the graduating class of 1958. He attended Southwestern State University, Oklahoma. Larry and Jeannine Gustafson married in 1962 and had three children. Larry proudly served six years in the U.S. Air Force. He worked for Lonestar Brewery Oklahoma, then Miller Brewing Co in Fort Worth for 18 years as a quality control supervisor. After leaving Miller, Larry pursued his lifelong passion, opening Engelhart Photography. Later, in spite of advanced glaucoma, Larry continued sharing pictures with family and friends. Other hobbies included traveling, movies, general "tinkering," gardening and games. During the last two years, Larry enjoyed daily coffee and other social activities with Uta and neighbors in their new retirement community. Larry was predeceased by his parents; and infant son, Charles Engelhart. Survivors: Wife of 25 years, Uta Sweeten of Fort Worth; sister, Virginia Merritt of Yukon, Okla.; children, Susan and Darren (Marty) Engelhart of Fort Worth; granddaughter, Ashley Engelhart of San Marcos; nephew, Ted (Debbie) Merritt II of Oklahoma City, Okla.; stepchildren, Corinne (Walter) Romanko of Austin, Yvonne (Jeff Nelson) Sweeten of Henderson, Nev., Monica (Rick) Martin of Hot Springs Village, Ark., Brian (Carrie) Sweeten of Hot Springs, Ark.; Opi's other grandchildren, Sarah Romanko, Andrew and Amelia Martin, Marina and Nicholas Sweeten, Nathaniel Fisher, and Brian Smith; former wife, Jeannine Sims; cousins; Uta's German family; and many friends.