Larry E. Camp

The following is an obituary written for Larry E. Camp combined with a letter written to his 3 children.
Larry E. Camp, 83 of Oak Harbor, OH died Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at Cleveland Clinic- Richard E. Jacobs Health Center in Avon, OH following an illness. He was born August 18, 1942 at Riverside Hospital in Toledo, OH to Edwin and Lucille V. (Coon) Camp. He attended Oakdale Grade School in Toledo, Jerusalem Grade School and Clay High School in Oregon, OH and graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1960. "I actually quit school, screwed around and then joined the Army with Uncle Bill." He went back to High School in Fremont and got all of his credits from Fremont Ross in 1970 and Oak Harbor gave him a diploma.
Larry enlisted in the United States Army in October of 1960. Served in Germany for 3 years in the 4th Missile Battalion, 6th Artillery, 7th Army. He was named Soldier of the Quarter and Soldier of the Year in 1962. He Served as Color Guard for President John F. Kennedy's visit to Germany in 1962. He was also among one of the first Americans to cross into East Germany after the Berlin Wall was erected. He was honorably discharged in 1963. "My first job out of the Army was at American Shipbuilding. I fibbed a little and told them I had some machinist skills, so they put me in the machine shop which was real good because it was colder than hell on the river and this was inside. I managed to blunder along for a while until they realized I was NOT a machinist. So, they made me an "outside machinist" as opposed to an "inside machinist". I lasted about an hour out on the ship in February. They gave me a bucket of diesel fuel and a brush and told me to clean the grease off some parts. I sat there about 10 minutes, threw the brush in the bucket and walked down the gangway. The foreman saw me and hollered at me. I didn't even turn around. Just waved and kept walking
On September 19, 1964 he married the former Cynthia "Cindy" S. Kuzeroski in Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, OH. "I still can't believe she chose me." From this marriage came children: Joseph, Christopher and Cheryl. Married 31 years at the time of Cindy's death in 1995, her death haunted him every day of his life. "She was too good of a person to leave so early. I never forgave myself for letting it happen. I did some stupid things after I thought I had recovered from her death but the truth was I was never over it, Never."
Larry was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, Oak Harbor. He was one of the first lector-commentators at St. Boniface, was the first Cantor, served on Church Council, numerous committees, and sang in the Choir for years. He, along with his wife Cindy, sang for numerous weddings, was chairman and chairwoman of the Parish Festival and served on the Chicken Barbeque Crew for many years, where he built and donated the pits and racks. He also sang with the Toledo Swiss Singers for 5 years and was very active in the German- American Society in Toledo.
He loved riding his motorcycle and all the good friends that he met while doing so. He was also a member of American Legion Post #114, Oak Harbor, Sandusky Am-Vets Post #17, and American Legion Riders of Elmore Post #279.
In 2007 Larry retired from Fremont Plastic Molds as Plant Manager. In 1964, Larry got a job in Fremont at Century Die as an apprentice. "I met your mom while I worked there. Worked there for about a year and got laid off and a guy told me Fremont Plastic Molds was hiring. So, I got hired and that's how I started down that path. I worked there about 5 years and heard about Borg Warner Machines in Fremont. It was there that I took your mom to their annual Christmas party and she lit up the room. She was wearing a silver lame' dress and people couldn't take their eyes off of her. So, now all the big shots knew who I was. The guy with that knockout wife. Yeah! She never put on a show, never". A machinist by trade, he also was an accomplished carpenter and woodworker. He had formed "Camp Construction" where he would build and remodel for others in the area. He hand carved the "Block-O" that hung on the door to the bathroom mirror in the basement. He also hand carved the "Buckeyes" into the bar, cabinet doors and table tops that friends over the years would sign. "The one swing house was made entirely from the oak removed from the church organ at St. Boniface."
Survivors include his children: Joseph Camp of Oak Harbor, OH, Christopher Camp of Oak Harbor, OH, and Cheryl (AJ) Potter of Woodville, OH; grandson Ryan Camp "my little buddy"; brothers-in-law Winfred "Dink" Jacobs and John Kuzeroski. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 31 years Cindy, sister Marilyn Jacobs, brother and sister-in law Dave & Karen Camp; brothers-in-law William Kuzeroski and Russell Cleveland.
"I was always glad that Cindy's and my birthday were on the same day. It just made it kind of special, you know? I can't remember when it was that we realized that."
Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 - 7:30 pm at Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 301 N. Locust St. Oak Harbor. A service of remembrance will begin Sunday evening at 7:30 pm at the Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 10:00 am at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 215 N. Church St., Oak Harbor. Burial will follow at Salem Township Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor where Military Honors will be presented by American Legion Post #114 of Oak Harbor. Memorial Contributions may be made to American Legion Post #114, 221 W. Park Street, Oak Harbor, OH 43449. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserpriesman.com.
"I'd like to share a fond memory that I like. It is Christmas time and you kids are all young. Everyone is in bed. The house is quiet. The Christmas tree is still lit and the presents, lots of them, are under the tree. The house is warm and comfortable, and I sit alone in the living room, smoking. I have this wonderful feeling that all is good. I've done it. I have made it. I am providing a nice home and I am very content. It is all that I ever hoped for. After spending my childhood years sleeping in freezing rooms and having a pretty sparce Christmas, I am able to give my kids what I didn't have. I hold no bad feelings toward my parents. It's just the way it was. My dad had even less than what I had so maybe he thought he had done better too. So, I basked in that wonderful glow of accomplishment. Sure would like to go back to that time." To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Larry, please visit our floral store.