L arry William Barron was born on February 13, 1949 in Marietta, Georgia. He was the second of three children, finding himself in between two sisters.

L arry became a Christian at the age of 17, after his older sister and brother-in-law asked him to go to a revival meeting with them at their church. Two men from the church visited him at his home the following week. Larry said, "While one of the men was talking to my Dad, the other one was working on me—giving me the plan of salvation. I saw my need and accepted Christ that night."

A t the age of 20, Larry enlisted in the United States Air Force. At each base to which he was assigned, his top priorities were to find a Bible teaching church and to get involved in it. While stationed in Germany, Larry met Joy at church. It was not love at first sight—at least not for Joy. In fact, she thought he was a little strange. However, he was persistent, and soon they were dating, getting married just six months later on January 21, 1972. (They were married 50 years in all.)

W hile still in Germany, they had their first son John, and after being transferred to a base in England, their second son Jim was born.

A fter serving 24 years in the Air Force on many different bases, Larry retired from the military and began what he called his "second career" by teaching computer classes at a local college. After 11 years of teaching, he moved on once more and began his third and favorite career of all—driving a school bus for the Circle school district. He loved seeing and interacting with the children and teenagers each day, and during those 17 years of driving, God gave him seven grandchildren of his own—six girls and one lonely boy.

T hroughout many years of serving in various churches, Larry always had a quiet strength and peaceful character that influenced many lives. He never sought positions of leadership, but would sometimes find them thrust upon him. His mantra was that God must always lead the ministry, not people.

L arry strongly believed that the 2006 launch of Freedom Bible Fellowship was very much a work of God. He was willing to fill many positions within the church, even preaching in recent years, which is something he had never done frequently in the past. He loved to study theology and write sermons, saying that although he was not trained to be a pastor, but he could still study the Bible and share it with others.

L arry was painfully aware of the dark world all around him that needs Christ, and he often looked for opportunities to share with unbelievers. He began handing out coins from Living Waters on which were the 10 Commandments on one side and the plan of salvation on the other. His favorite places to do so were in waiting rooms, where he said people had to listen to him because they had no place they could go. Larry loved to encourage his grandchildren and his church family to reach out to those around them with the Good News in similar ways.

O ver the last nine weeks, Larry has prayed that he would be able to return to sharing and teaching at FBF each week, but God had different plans for him. After a struggle with low oxygen levels, pneumonia, and multiple organ failure, the Lord took Larry home to be with Him on January 18th, 2022. Larry spoke of being ready to go to heaven, as well as being ready to stay. He is now with the Savior whom he loved and looked forward so much to seeing. We rejoice for him in his new home with no more pain and no more struggle.