Lawrence Alan Schroeder

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT LARRY SCHROEDER Larry Schroeder, 74, passed away at his residence in Spokane, Washington on June 27, 2022. Larry was born in Portland, Oregon on July 29, 1947, to Esther and Louis Schroeder. Larry graduated from George Washington High School in San Francisco, CA in 1965. After graduation, he attended Southern California College in Costa Mesa, CA. After leaving college he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Jan 5, 1967, and was sent to Lackland AFB, Texas for Basic Training. He was then assigned to Fairchild AFB, Washington where he underwent training to be a Survival Instructor. He graduated from Instructor Training on May 6, 1967. Larry served in many locations around the world, being assigned to Fairchild AFB, Washington, Clark AFB, Philippines, Eielson AFB, Alaska, and assignments in Randolph AFB, Texas, and Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. He was an enthusiastic teacher and loved teaching survival. Larry was a Vietnam Era and Gulf War Era Veteran. Larry retired from active duty as a Chief Master Sergeant on May 1, 1997. After retirement from the military, Larry continued service to this great nation as a Federal Employee working with all branches of the military to standardize and improve survival training. He also worked on many projects involving regulatory guidance and training issues for all Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) training locations. His over five decades of service impacted thousands of SERE students, saving the lives of our warfighters across the Department of Defense and other governmental agencies. He also worked on many projects having a lasting impact for SERE training and Personnel Recovery procedures. His leadership, mentoring, and friendship will be missed by all who have known him. Larry and his wife Patti were married on May 17, 1980. That was the evening before Mt. St. Helens erupted. They were married for 42 years. Larry and Patti loved traveling and keeping in touch with the many friends they met throughout his career. He is preceded in death by his parents Esther and Louis Schroeder and his half-sister Carol J. Hutchins. Larry is survived by his wife Patti and his nephews and nieces Jim Hutchins, Jacqui Osbourn, Ed Hutchins, and Wendy Davison. Committal service with military honors will be held on Friday, July 29 at 9:00 A.M. at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W. Espanola Rd., Medical Lake, WA. Followed by a Celebration of Life with a Brunch Potluck at 10:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall, located at 1307 S. Loffler St. in Airway Heights, WA. The VFW Hall will be open at 8:00 am for anyone who would like to drop off food for the Brunch Potluck.

Lawrence Alan Schroeder

July 29, 1947 - June 27, 2022