Obituary of Clarence LaRue

Clarence C. (Buzz) LaRue, 92, formerly of Kingsport passed away Thursday, January 9, 2014, in Rutland, Vermont after a short illness. He was born in Millboro Springs, Virginia, June 22, 1921, to Clarence and Carrie Wilmore LaRue. Growing up in Bath County, Virginia, he graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1943 and served in WWII with the 3rd Army in Europe as an artillery officer. He participated in the Normandy invasion, the Central Europe, Northern France and Rhineland campaigns and the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Bronze Star for action in combat. He retired from The U.S. Army Reserve in 1969 as Lt. Colonel after serving in various capacities including that of commanding officer. A long-time local businessman, he relocated to Kingsport in 1954. He was a member of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion Hammond Post 3. He retired from Holston Defense Corporation in 1989. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the Outdoorsman's Club and the Cherokee Rod and Gun Club, serving in various leadership positions for both organizations. Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Sue Van Hoy LaRue, his brother James LaRue (Peck), and two sisters Wilma Mast and Lee Tenant Survivors include his sister, Ann Durfee of Sarasota, Florida; four sons, Courtney LaRue and wife Sue of Fair Haven, Vermont, David LaRue and wife Carolyn of Greenville, South Carolina, Brack LaRue and wife Sandy of Columbia, South Carolina, and Jon LaRue and wife Suzanne of Kingsport; five grandchildren: Celia Campbell and Theresa Young of Weatherford, Texas, Mary Elizabeth LaRue, Benjamin LaRue and wife Brittany of Greenville, South Carolina, and Paul LaRue of Fair Haven, Vermont. He has six great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Genuine and benevolent, Buzz was a loving husband, caring brother and a patient and understanding dad. He was a gentleman, a best friend and an exceptional role model in life. He will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. Godspeed. Family visitation will be at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, 520 Watauga Street, Kingsport, on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. Military graveside services will be held at Weaver Cemetery, Bristol, Tennessee, on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 2:00 pm conducted by the American Legion Hammond Post #3 and Post #265 In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the International FOP (Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva) Association, P.O. Box 196217, Winter Springs, FL 32719-6217 www.ifopa.org Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the LaRue family