Larry D. Cruse

Larry D. Cruse, 74, of Greenwood, passed away on August 14, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer, with his family by his side.
He was born on August 31, 1950, in Beech Grove, Indiana, to the late Jack Bryson Cruse Sr. and Ruth (Arvin) Cruse. Larry grew up in a close-knit family and lived a life rooted in humility, service, and faith.
A proud veteran, Larry served his country in the United States Army. Following his service, he built a long and respected career at Allison Transmission, where he worked in various manufacturing, engineering and purchasing roles for 38 years before retiring in 2005. He later served on the Board for GM/Allison's Retirees and embarked on a successful second career as an Associate Broker with Weichert Realtors from 2005 to 2023.
Larry was a 1968 graduate of Beech Grove High School, where he served as senior class president and participated on the football and wrestling teams. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Marion College and played semi-professional football for The Kaps in Indianapolis.
Larry was a devoted man of faith and a dedicated member of Southland Community Church, where he served as an Elder and on the Church Board. He lived his Christian values through service, kindness, and quiet strength.
He found joy in life's simple pleasures-fishing, walking, spending time with family, yardwork, boating on Lake Lemon, and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. His life was marked by steady dedication, deep love, and unwavering faith.
Larry leaves behind to treasure his memory, his beloved wife of nearly 30 years, Cheryl "Cheri" Cruse; five children, Kelly (Jacob) Burris, Brian Cruse, Mitchell Cruse, Katherine (Brock) England, and Andrew Cruse; and grandchildren, Alexis (Madison) Gerhart, Kylee Harvey, Katelyn Cruse, Kendall Cruse, Matthias Burris, Braque England, Calli Long England and Juniper England. He was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Kaylani Cruse and Kah'mora Newson.
He is also survived by his siblings: Jack (Sharon) Cruse Jr., Greg (Angie) Cruse, Mark (Nancy) Cruse, Mike Cruse, and Tom (Jenny) Cruse, along with many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and other loved ones who welcomed him home.
A celebration of Larry's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Southland Community Church, 5800 W. Smith Valley Rd., Greenwood. Family and friends are invited to gather to honor his memory, share stories, and celebrate a life well lived from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service. He will be laid to rest at The Gardens at Olive Branch.
Larry will be remembered as a man who lived with love, purpose, and compassion. His legacy of kindness, dedication, and devotion to family and community will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
Memorial contributions in Larry's memory may be made to Southland Community Church or to The Boaz Project.
The family invites those who knew Larry to share their memories, photographs, and condolences online, helping to honor his legacy and keep his memory alive.