Larry Dale Hernandez

Larry Dale Hernandez passed away on Wednesday 11/19/2025 with his wife Karen and son Shawn by his side. A memorial service will be held at Renew Church Waco on Saturday 12/13/2025 at 2:00pm with visitation fallowing the service at the church.

Larry was born July 28, 1956 at Fayette Memorial Hospital in LaGrange, TX to Jesse Lee Hernandez and Mary Louise Wied Hernandez. According to Larry’s Sacred Heart School 8th grade autobiography, he was welcomed by his “dearly beloved” brother, Kenny. He wrote that in grades 1-3 he was happy to go to school and had fun meeting new friends and teachers. In grades 4-6 he was not too happy to go back to school after summer break because he enjoyed swimming and playing baseball. As an eighth grader he saw his future as going to college to get a degree in oceanography because it was challenging, and in his spare time he wanted to be a musician and play in a band. Well, the musician thing worked out pretty well, but sometime in high school he shifted his dreams from the ocean to the sky and knew he would become an aircraft mechanic.

Larry graduated from LaGrange High School in 1974 and went to TSTI in Waco, TX where he graduated in 1976 and earned his A&P license. He loved all things about aircraft but not as much as he loved Karen Marshall whom he married in June 1975. Soon they were joined by a new love.…..their son Shawn.

After college graduation, Larry worked in Waco as an aircraft mechanic and aircraft inspector at RAM for about 25 years, enjoying the challenge of keeping those planes safe to fly. In his spare time, he got back into playing bass guitar on a more regular basis. He played with a few bands and was part of a duet, but more than anything he just enjoyed the practices with others and he was always wanting to learn more - taking lessons and picking the brains of other players. He also enjoyed working on stringed instruments in his spare time and soon started a business as a luthier full time for almost 20 years. He enjoyed meeting all those musicians and they appreciated him because he took time to listen to their preferences on their instruments. Larry also enjoyed woodworking, making some beautiful gifts for family and friends.

Larry was a wonderful family man who took pride in taking care of his wife, son and mother. He wanted the best for them. He could fix just about anything and would often over-engineered things because he wanted a challenge. His mom would often welcome him with a list of things to fix when he visited - possibly because she knew he enjoyed staying busy and because he just liked fixing things that were broke.

Larry loved God, his family, friends, pets, people, and ice cream ……… especially Blue Bell. He also learned to enjoy sports which happened when his grandkids came along. Regardless of how he was feeling, he made every effort to be at as many of their games, performances and other events as he could because he was their biggest fan! As a long time season ticket holder, he also enjoyed going to Baylor football games - win or lose.

Larry enjoyed a good joke and he liked to make people smile whether they were family, friend or stranger. He surprised many people on their birthday (but not relatives) by giving them a call at least that one day a year.

Probably the biggest challenge Larry ever faced was his cancer diagnosis 8 years ago. He fought a good fight and was extremely grateful for the prayers, phone calls and help from the many friends, family, neighbors and medical staff through the years. He learned to live life to serve and not be served just like Jesus!

Larry was preceded in death by his father Jesse L. Hernandez. He is survived by his wife Karen, his son Shawn and wife Crystal, his mother Mary Louise Hernandez, his grandchildren Norah, Robbie, Sammie, Jacob and Reylee, his brother Kenny and wife Carol and their children Keith and Amy, his brother-in-law Joe Marshall and wife Pam and their son Adam, his sister-in-law Susan Perkovich and husband Tim and their daughter Heather. Larry also was godfather to Keith and Heather.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St Jude’s Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital, any pet shelter, & the American Cancer Society. (He had a special place in his heart for children and animals who were suffering.)

For those wishing to send flowers to the family, please reach out to Park Lake Flowers, 1709 Cotton Belt Pkwy, McGregor, TX 76657.