Larry Wayne Rife, 81, of Rossville, passed away at 4:10 p.m. Monday, December 25, 2023, at the VA Illiana Healthcare System, in Danville.
Larry was born on October 8, 1942, in Danville, Illinois, the son of Harold and Betty Lou (Runyan) Rife. He married Nancy Jean Tutwiler on April 4, 1969, in Henning, Illinois. She preceded him in death on July 22, 2022.
He is survived by two sons- Bill Rife of Home Gardens, Illinois and Nick (Tammy) Rife of Knoxville, Tennessee; two grandchildren- Kyle (Kelly) Rife and Megan Rife both of Knoxville, Tennessee; two great-grandchildren- Maxon and Emma Jean Rife both of Knoxville, Tennessee; brother- Raymond Michael (Kim) Garretson of Poway, California; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father- Ray Garretson and two brothers- Harold and John Rife.
Larry served in the United States Navy from 1963 to 1967. He worked as a truck driver most of his life as an owner/operator and also worked for Central Transport and Southland. Prior to that he worked as a machinist at Montgomery Machine and for Hyster, in Danville. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of Pleasant View Lodge #0782. Larry loved garden tractors and he enjoyed buying, selling and collecting antique garden tractors. In his younger years he loved horses and grew up around horses. Larry was also a NASCAR fan and enjoyed cheering for Ryan Blaney.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 5th, 2024, at Danville National Cemetery, with Pastor Dan Mikel officiating, with full military honors conducted by the American Legion Post #210. Masonic services will also be held during this time. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Larry’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Masonic Children’s Hospital, in Minnesota. The family has entrusted the Blurton Funeral Home to assist them in honoring Larry’s life. Condolences may be shared with the family on his everlasting memorial page at: www.BlurtonFuneralHomes.com.
