More detail on this person: Larry K. Waggoner Obituaries, July 21, 2006 St. Joseph News-Press (MO) - Friday, July 21, 2006 1940-2006 WHITE CLOUD, Kan. - Larry K. Waggoner, 65, of White Cloud, died late Tuesday evening, July 18, 2006, at his home. Larry Kenneth Waggoner (CW4 retired) was born at White Cloud, Aug. 20, 1940, one of three children of Charles "Bo" and Orpha Nell Fee Waggoner. He grew up there, where he attended school, graduating with the last class of White Cloud High School in 1958. He later received an associate's degree in business at Enterprise, Ala. He joined the Army on June 6, 1958, and served at several Nike Ajax-Hercules Air Defense Artillery (ADA) sites in the continental United States (CONUS) and Korea until beginning flight school in 1966, Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Class 66-15, (WORWAC 66-15). Upon completion of flight school, he was assigned to 3rd Red Horse Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, Fort Knox, Ky., in November of 1966. Following extensive unit training, he deployed with C Troop, Charlie Horse, to Dian, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) in November of 1967. After in-country training with "D" Troop, 3rd Centaurs Squadron, 4th Cavalry at Cu Chi. He then returned to the scout platoon and later gun platoon, Assassins of C/3/17 and redeployed to Tay Ninh. In July of 1968, he was infused to the 128th Tomahawks AHC at Phu Loi, where he served as Gunslinger 36 until October of 1968. His next duty was an inter-theater transfer to Fairbanks, Alaska, to fly CH21's for 18 months and then back to Conus for fixed wing flight school and OV-1 qualification. In January of 1971, he returned to RVN (jungle survival school, Philippines enroot) for an assignment with headquarters, the 7th Ruthless Riders Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry at Qui Nhon and later Lane AHP until July 1971. He was then assigned to the 173rd Surveillance Airplane Company (OV-1) at Tui Hua until November of 1971. When this unit was stood down, he was re-assigned to Fort Rucker, Ala. At Fort Rucker, he completed Instrument Flight Examiner School, U-8 qualification and warrant officer intermediate career course, and one-year bootstrap to complete his education in business administration. His next assignment was as chief of standards (OV-1 & UH-1) at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., from 1974 until 1977. In May of 1977, he was transferred to Stuttgart, Germany, to serve as instructor pilot with DET 1, 330th ASA Quicklook Company and the 73rd MI Company (OV-1). He returned to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., for retirement in July of 1980, culminating 22 years of active service. Larry was awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal 38th Device, Army Commendation Medal 2nd AWD, Good Conduct Medal 3rd AWD and numerous service medals. On September of 1989, he was awarded the Red Feather by the Red Feather Society on the Iowa, Sac and Fox Indian Reservation of White Cloud. Mr. Waggoner was a member of Lighthouse Church of God of rural White Cloud and commander of the Iowa Tribal Ceremonial Honor Guard. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Doniphan County, Kan., and St. Joseph, Mo. He was past commander of the American Legion of White Cloud. He was a lifetime member of the DAV and V.F.W., VHPA, Mohawk Association and the 3/17 AIRCAV, all military organizations. He married Gloria Rodecap, Aug. 21, 1959, at White Cloud. Today, they own and operate ECO Water Conditioning in White Cloud and St. Joseph. They would have celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary this August. She survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Arlene Long, and husband, Sam of White Cloud; two sons, Jeff Waggoner, and wife, Jeanie of St. Joseph and Clint Waggoner, and wife, Shelly of White Cloud; a sister, Delores Argabright of Gladstone, Mo.; and seven grandchildren. Larry was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Brenda Higgins. A Celebration of Life service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 22, at the Lighthouse Church of God near White Cloud. Pastor Mark Honeycutt will officiate. A military service will be a courtesy of a detail from Fort Leavenworth, Iowa Tribal Ceremonial Unit, White Cloud Legion and Falls City Ceremonial Unit at Olive Branch Cemetery, White Cloud. Friends may call after 9 a.m. Friday, July 21, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Highland, Kan., where the family will meet with friends from 7 until 8:30 p.m. Friday. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Lighthouse Hospice, both of which may be sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 33, Highland, Kan., 66035.
Burial information: Olive Branch Cemetery, White Cloud, KS
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