Lawrence Eldridge "Larry" Standard
Marriages
Clarice Lang - May 28, 1957
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B Death Notice - November 19, 2014
Lawrence E. Standard, 89, Fruita, died Nov. 12, 2014, at HopeWest.Mr. Standard was a chef.Services are pending with Brown’s Cremation Service.Survivors include his wife, Clarice; one son, Larry D. of Saudi Arabia; two daughters, Lori Chesnick of Fruita and Patti Cronk of Grand Junction; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchil-dren.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7B Obituary - November 19, 2014
Lawrence Eldridge Standard died
at the age of 89, a few short days
after suffering a stroke. It was a
quiet and deserved end to a long
and interesting life.
Larry was born to Nellie Georgia
Edwards Standard Robbins and
James Eldridge Standard in Grand
Junction. He attended Grand Junction
schools when he wasn’t working
to support his family with a string of odd jobs like selling ice and
coal to the houses of ill repute lining South Avenue. He never knew
when his father would breeze into town and they would hop a freight
train together, headed for the fields of California or Oregon to pick
strawberries, peas, or whatever crop was in season.
He spent the war years in the Merchant Marines, serving as a cook on
ships delivering supplies to bases throughout the Pacific. After the war
he returned to riding the rails and was always proud of his days spent
as a “hobo”. He traveled the United States, living in “hobo jungles”,
picking up a job cooking or washing dishes whenever he ran out of
money. The one constant during this time was summers spent cooking
at the famous Gallagher’s Restaurant in Glenwood. He terrorized the
waitresses, sending them out of “his” kitchen in tears--all except for
one girl ten years his junior, who threatened him with a cleaver if he
didn’t change his ways. Of course he had to marry her, and on May 28,
1957, Larry married Clarice Lang from Fruita.
Larry returned to school and eventually received a Master’s Degree in
English Literature from Western State College and completed coursework
for a Doctorate in English Literature from the University of Colorado.
He taught literature at Mesa Junior College for six years and
was a student favorite, touching many lives. He and Clarice made their
home in Fruita where the good residents of that small farming community
didn’t know quite what to make of his Bermuda shorts and
flip-flops in 1964.
Returning to cooking, Larry was head chef at a number of restaurants
in Grand Junction, including the Bookcliff Country Club. He spent his
later years cooking for the staff at the Grand Junction Regional Center,
making his legendary brownies and carrot cake. He was known for telling
corny jokes, cooking delicious food, and spending summers perfecting
his tan in a backyard lawnchair. He loved to read and enjoyed
his many friends at the Mesa County Library. He enjoyed frequent trips
to Las Vegas playing the nickel slots and bought lottery tickets to the
very end from the wonderful staff at Fruita City Market.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, James Standard;
sister, Vivian DeCosta; his granddaughter, Aranzazu Gorrino,
and great-granddaughter, Darcy Gorrino. He is survived by his wife,
Clarice; his son, Larry of Saudi Arabia; his daughter, Lori (Loren)
Chesnick of Fruita; his daughter, Patti (Tom) Cronk of Grand Junction,
and his good friend Betsy Black of Fruita. He is also survived by
his adoring grandchildren, Joseph and Jacob Gorrino; Tyler, Laura and
Sara Cronk; and Christopher, William and Michael Standard, as well
as three great-grandchildren.
Please remember Larry’s life by slipping on a pair of comfortable
flip-flops, eating a spicy plate of spaghetti, and reading a good book!
