Lawrence Waite

Lawrence (Larry) William Waite, 69, of East Grand Rapids, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 21, 2024. Larry was born on December 24, 1954, in Cleveland, OH and kept his mom in the hospital on Christmas Day! He has had many joint birthday and Christmas party celebrations throughout his life, and he was always a good sport. He graduated from Clare High School in 1973. Larry married his best friend and high school sweetheart, Lucy Kay Hough-Waite on June 18, 1977 in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Larry and Lucy moved to Grand Rapids, MI to begin their careers, where Larry graduated from Grand Valley State University and enjoyed more than one career over his lifetime, both as a realtor and special education teacher. He later earned his master's in education. He retired from teaching at Mayfield Community Transition Center in 2014, shortly before his 60th birthday. To meet Larry, is to love Larry. He was loved by family, friends, and colleagues and was loyal to a fault. He enjoyed making others laugh and having a good time! He was an avid chess player and coached chess for his girls when they were growing up and attended many chess tournaments over the years. He enjoyed many hobbies like bicycling, watching football and spending time at Eight Point Lake, where he and his brother-in-law, Joe Hough, organized the annual corn hole tournament. Larry will be fondly remembered as a faithful and loving husband, father, “Pop Pop” (grandfather), and uncle. Survivors include: Wife: Lucy Hough-Waite of East Grand Rapids, MI. Daughter and son-in-law: Rachel and Ryan Hipp of Lowell, MI. Daughter and son-in-law: Mackenzie and Mark Rohm of Wolcottville, IN. Grandchildren: Lilith Hipp, Rexford Rohm, Emma Rohm, and Eli Rohm Brother and sister-in-law: Joseph and Cindy Hough and nephews/nieces Brian Hough (Kristina), Bryan Rowley (Chelsea), Chris Hough (Nicole), Jill White (Brian), Jeff Hough (Carissa). Many close friends were like family to him; including Larry and Beth Jenkins, Larry and Marilee Fisher, Jim and Nancy Trewhella, Al and Shirley Hess, Tom Scott, George Deindorfer, the Pinochle Women and spouses, and many more too numerous to mention. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence George Waite and Rachel Corbly Waite. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, June 27 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., in the upper room/parlor at First United Methodist Church at 227 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. A celebration of life will be held at the Caledonia Lakeside Park enclosed shelter at 370 N Lake St SE, Caledonia, MI 49316 on Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00p.m. The celebration remarks will begin at 3:00p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations on behalf of Larry Waite to Attn: Grand Rapids Chess Center to 1157 Northlawn St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505. These funds will support chess scholarships for kids. The Grand Rapids Chess Center can be reached at grandrapidschesscenter@gmail.com or at the Tuesday night chess club at Northlawn United Methodist Church. To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Larry's online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lawrence Waite, please visit our flower store.