Uncle Bud - such a strong yet gentle man...he was my inspiration to complete the 2009 Flying Pig Marathon through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.  I love you and think of you often.

Dan

Emerson Church Unitarian Universalist, January 19, 2014

I light a candle for Larry Lauderback, my friend and significant other for 20 years. I spotted him soon after I started attending Emerson Church. I did everything but turn cartwheels down the aisle to get noticed by that shy man. Finally with encouragement from my daughter, I gathered my nerve and called him for a coffee date. We hit it off. I was 53 he was 66. He was a valued and well-loved member of Emerson, as he remains today. It is my enduring pleasure that I worked with him on building projects here; the most noteworthy being this sanctuary. At age 17 with his widowed mother’s permission he joined the Marine Corps. It was World War II. He served in China. World War II China Marines were those of the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions sent to occupy northern China after the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II, from 1945 - 1948. He renewed those friendships as we attended many China Marine reunions over the years. He was a fine man; he will be missed; I miss him every day.

I am grateful for your cards, phone calls, emails; kind words and kind thoughts spoken and unspoken.