Larry Dean Ebberts, was born August 9, 1942, in Kansas City, Mo. to Robert and Virgina (Potts) Ebberts the eldest son of six children. Larry grew up going to his grandparents farm and lived with them for a time and there started his love of fishing. Larry was always known to find a way to do things and this was evident when he was young because the story goes that Larry would improvise since he didn’t have a horse to ride to the river to fish he would ride the farm cow! He would tie an ear of corn on a string to a stick and hold it out in front of the cow to she would walk and away they went. Now those of you who know Larry can envision this scene. He would fish and the cow would eat her ear of corn. He made sure he had an extra so he had a ride back home. Larry attended Shawnee Mission High School and graduated in 1961. He operated a dairy farm with his brother until 1966 when a letter from the US government showed up. He knew what it was without opening it. It was a draft notice. Larry took a few days to himself and went to the local recruitment office and enlisted in the Army. Prior to his entry into the Army, Larry met his future wife, Veta. They met at a dance and it’s been told they didn’t even like each other at first. But shortly after he won her over and they began dating and got engaged. Both families encouraged them to wait till Larry got home from his tour in Vietnam before they got married and they agreed. Larry was assigned to the original 592nd Transportation Company. His job was that of a truck driver and mechanic. The mission of the company was to build a fleet of trucks to be taken to Vietnam where the war was heating up. The company built the fleet of MS4A2 5 ton cargo trucks at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. While there they also participated in special recon training exercises specifically dealing with guerilla and counter guerilla tactics. This training included detailed instruction in booby traps, Vietnamese village orientation and night escape and evasion. After completing the building of the fleet and their training the company departed to Oakland Array Terminal, California. The trucks traveled by rail while the personnel traveled by air. The troop then boarded the USMS General William Weigel for a 16 day journey by sea. They stopped in Okinawa for refueling and supplies and on October 16, 1966 entered the territorial waters of Vietnam. The troop debarked at Cam Rahn Bay on October 18. The following two weeks found the company establishing billeting facilities, mess hall and administrative headquarters while their task vehicles were still en route to Vietnam. Their mission was that of port and beach clearance. The troop received many awards and commendations during their time together. In June of 1967 they were given the mission of convoy duty outside Cam Rahn Bay. They traveled much of South Vietnam during this time. The unit left Vietnam in August of 1967. After returning to the states, Larry surprised Veta with a visit and they were married December 22, 1967. Veta went with Larry to Colorado Springs where he was stationed at Fort Carson until finishing his service career in 1969. The couple moved back to Shawnee, Ks where Larry was employed as a bricklayer. They moved to and operated a resort at Grand Lake in Oklahoma for 5 years, came back to Shawnee and Larry started driving a truck. Veta joined him and they drove over the road for several years. Wanting a quiet life at home they gave up their trucking career and Larry went to work for the City of Overland Park where he worked for 23 years. They bought their farm in La Cygne, Ks in 1990 and lived there until 2015. Every farm has to have a horse or a cow and Larry had it all. He had cattle for a number of years and many horses. His favorite was probably his old stud horse, Sam. Larry and Sam would go up any hill or down any embankment. It didn’t matter. Sam was a very good horse and for being a stud he knew when the saddle was on it meant business and he would ride alongside any other horse and it was strictly business. Probably half the county there in Kansas have horses they got from Larry out of Sam. Larry was proud of that old horse and the fact anyone could ride him, even little kids. Many of his offspring went on performing in rodeos as barrel horses, roping and steer wrestling mounts or just good old trail horses. Larry loved to hunt, fish, and garden. He was proud of his huge asparagus patch he always had. After he retired from the City of Overland Park he spent his time baling hay either for himself or friends. He loved to mow so he was always out on the mower or in the tractor mowing somewhere. He would help anyone that needed help and if you know Larry you know it always involved a cold beer. If you stopped at Larry and Veta’s house you had a cold one and most of the time stayed for supper. Their home was the place of many deer hunting parties always held the first Friday night after opening day of deer season. Friends from all over would come and bring food and tell tall tales and have a great time. Their barn would always be full of deer hanging. In the midst of deer hunting if someone got a turkey then they would clean it and take it to Veta and of course she would cook it for everyone. Larry would take anyone hunting, he knew all the good spots. Larry rode every inch of the area there in Kansas on horseback with friends. He bought himself a doctors buggy from the Amish and had team of horses he pulled it with. Once he offered his services to a couple getting married and carried them in the buggy to their wedding and then on to their reception and he dressed the part, don’t think he didn’t. Black suit with black cowboy hat. He was quite the character. Larry worked hard and played hard and his body paid for it. He had knee surgeries, shoulder surgeries but he always bounced back because he might need to help do something. He would ride around in his tractor with a herd of dogs in with him just because the dogs liked to ride. He had a big barn that he spent a lot of time in working on a trailer, truck, mower, making something for hanging deer. That’s where you could always find him on most days and then most nights he would sit in his hot tub out under the Kansas sky with friends. Larry and Veta decided they wanted to enjoy a warmer climate and leave the Kansas winters behind so in 2015 they sold the farm. It was a huge auction and a very emotional time for them both. They left Kansas made their home in Port Isabel, Tx and recently purchased their last home there in Texas. Larry was excited being in Texas. Oh the fishing! He went deep sea fishing every chance he got. If someone came to visit they went deep sea fishing. He was truly in his element. His health was good, he was fishing a lot, bought a boat so he could go fish every day. Life was good. Larry and Veta made many new friends in Texas but then Larry never met a stranger. Most conversations would start out with an argument of sorts. That was Larry. He always meant well. Even though they lived in Texas they returned to Kansas occasionally to visit family and friends. They even brought their Texas friends with them to show them where they used to live and see Larry and Veta’s old farm, the horses, and their old friends. Larry loved to travel. Every year Larry and Veta would travel to his army reunion. The 592nd held a reunion once a year and that was a wonderful time when the guys could get together and rehash the old times. It was very therapeutic for them and staying in touch has helped them all to move past some of the horrific events of the war. Although it was often not the best of times, Larry said he would not trade his experience in the Army and his service in Vietnam for a million dollars. Larry was very proud of serving his country. You could always find him wearing his hat that said he was a Vietnam Vet. His 592nd flag was mounted on his wall as you walked into his home. Larry probably did more than most people in their lifetime with the places he had been and the things he had saw and to say Larry lived a full life is an understatement. His life has been full of good times along with the bad times. He lived, he loved, he lost, he learned and made his fair share of mistakes and he never gave up. Larry and Veta had 52 wonderful years of marriage together full of laughter, family, numerous friends and many, many memories. Larry passed away on his birthday, August 9, 2020, very peacefully at home where he would have wanted to be. Larry had just celebrated his 78th birthday. He had a good day. Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Virgina Ebberts as well as a few good ole boys he used to hunt or fish with that recently passed as well. Larry leaves behind his beloved wife, Veta, of the home; three brothers: Max, Kevin and Keith; two sisters: Linda and Mary Ann; nieces, nephews and numerous friends who were like family to him. Larry has left a void in the lives of those who knew him and will be sadly missed my many. Try to smile and think of Larry with his friends that have also passed on this year and know they will be having one heck of a deer camp party this year. Rest in Peace Larry, we all will miss you. A visitation will begin Monday, August 24, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a chapel service at 2:00 p.m. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, Texas followed by military honors under the direction of the VFW Post 2035 of Brownsville, Texas. You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle, or send words of comfort to the family of Larry D. Ebberts at www.thomaegarza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.