Lawrence Harold "Larry" Skelton

Lawrence Harold “Larry” Skelton, 85, of Wichita, Kansas died Saturday, December 10, 2022. Born July 15, 1937, in Evansville, Indiana, he was the only child of William Harold and Gail Bernice (Jones) Skelton. He attended Washington and Baker grade schools and graduated from Central High School in 1955. Larry was a graduate of Indiana University with a bachelors degree in geology and an AFROTC commission as 2nd Lieutenant. In his senior year at I.U., he was president of Beta Lambda Chapter of the phi Kappa Tau fraternity He earned an MBA degree at Trinity University and an M.S. in geology at Wichita State University. He was integrated into the regular Air Force and served 21 years in petroleum logistics and energy management positions; retiring in the grade of lieutenant colonel. He served overseas in Greenland, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam with TDY in Taiwan and Cambodia. Serving at air bases in the U.S., he was Chief of Supply/Supply Squadron Commander at the time of retirement. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V device, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm device. He was selected as the Air Force Outstanding Fuels Senior Manager in 1976. Following military retirement in 1981, he moved to Wichita, Kansas where he was employed for 25 years by the Kansas Geological Survey, first as manager of the Wichita Well Sample Library and later as Assistant Director of Wichita Operations. He was awarded the 2001 Distinguished Service Award by Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the 2002 Public Service Award by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Kansas Geological Society and as a Rockhound of the Year by the Wichita Gem and Mineral Society. Larry served as presidents of the Kansas Geological Society, the Kansas Geological Foundation, Washington Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and president and treasurer of the Kansas Academy of Science. He published more than 60 papers on geological and historical subjects and served on boards of directors of several Wichita civic organizations. Larry was a meme of Albert Pike Lodge AF&AM, Sons of the American Revolution General Society of the War of 1812, Sons of Union Veterans, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, The American Legion, Society of Indiana Pioneers, First Families of Ohio, First Families of Tennessee, the Wichita Gem and Mineral Society, Friends of Mineralogy and Kansas Geological Society. He leaves behind Mary Pearl (Fuller) Skelton, his beloved wife of 57 years; sons, Harold Lawrence Skelton (Kimberly) and John Loring Skelton (Amber), all of Wichita, KS; grandchildren, Eli T., Levi W., Lauran M., Gillian N., and Jensen L. all of Wichita, KS. Visitation is 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, December 20, 2022, Funeral Service is 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 21, 2022, both at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Graveside Service, 2:00 pm, Friday, December 23, 2022, at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, Winfield, KS. A memorial has been established with: Veterans Memorial Park Wichita, Inc. (VMPWI), c/o John Offerman, 2432 N. Bellwood Court, Wichita, KS 67205.