Larry Wayne Dean

Larry Wayne Dean, age 79, of Forney, Texas, passed away on October 11, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. Visitation will be at the New Hope Funeral Home, Sunnyvale, Texas, at 10:00am, Monday, October 16, 2017. Funeral services will be held at the New Hope Funeral Home, Sunnyvale, Texas, at 11:00am, Monday, October 16, 2017, with the Reverend Charles Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, Forney, Texas. Larry Dean was born in Friendship, Arkansas on June 28, 1938.He moved to Mesquite when he was 11 and graduated Mesquite High School in 1957.He married Gail Daugherty on February 28, 1958 in Mesquite, Texas.In 1958, shortly after he joined the US Air Force, Larry and Gail moved to Abilene, Texas.After serving in the Air Force for 8 years, he worked as an Electrical Engineer until his retirement in 1995.He was an Air Force veteran from the Vietnam Conflict Era.He was awarded several medals and honors while he was in the Air Force. Once Larry and Gail started a family, with his sons, he was involved in Cub Scouts, The Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts as an adult leader, in addition to being a leader for the Royal Ambassadors.Larry was an avid hunter and was very involved and committed to sharing his knowledge of firearm safety and hunting etiquette.He loved to teach the Hunter Safety Course, and was certified by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as an instructor trainer.Larry and Gail are members of Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Clyde C. Dean and Kathleen Rutledge Dean, and his sister Joan Dean Patterson Bell. Larry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Gail Daugherty Dean, of Forney: Son, Steven W. Dean of Dallas: Son, Clifton R. Dean and wife Tracy Baker Dean of Rowlett, Texas. Larry's Brother, Charles H. Dills also survives him. Larry loved to spend time with his grandsons, Brian R. Dean and Tyler R. Dean of Rowlett, Texas; and he considered himself lucky to have been blessed with a great-grandson, Hudson R. Dean, also of Rowlett. There are several nieces and nephews who survive him.