Laurence H. Gary, husband, father & neighbor, age 88

Laurence H. Gary, a retired Texaco Oil Co. official and active church member, died Sunday of natural causes at Vantage House in Columbia, MD. He was 90.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Mr. Gary was a 1935 graduate of Polytechnic Institute. He earned a law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1939.

In 1937, he joined the Naval Reserve. During World War II, he served as an engineering officer and executive officer in the Pacific. His decorations included the Philippine Liberation Medal with two Bronze Stars.

After the war, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1949.

During the Korean War, he returned to active naval duty. He also served as a recruiting officer in Nashville, Tenn., before being discharged with the rank of lieutenant commander.

In 1952, Mr. Gary joined Texaco and was assigned to the company's Mid-Atlantic region.

He was promoted to the company's Boston office, where he was regional manager of the company's Northeast region. After retiring in 1982, he moved to Ellicott City.

Mr. Gary earned his real estate license and worked for Long & Foster for several years.

"He delighted in helping first-time homeowners and new citizens secure homes and financing," said his daughter, Suzanne Olivia Gary Malesic of York, Pa.

He was active in the Maryland Defense Force, where he attained the rank of colonel.

He was an active member of Bethany United Methodist Church in Ellicott City, and he participated on missions trips to Alaska and Puerto Rico. He also was a member of the Disciple Bible Study group.

His wife of 60 years, the former Bernice Olivia Berry, died last year.

Services were held on Saturday, Nov. 1st, at Loudon Park Funeral Home, 3620 Wilkens Ave, Baltimore. Mr. Gary was buried with full military honors in the family plot, in the Hillsdale section.

Also surviving are two sons, Laurence H. Gary Jr. of Clifton, Va., and Judson Emmett Gary III of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a sister, Ruth Virginia Gary Bell Cyford of Columbia; and four grandchildren.