~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WAL Capt. Larry Donald Siddall

March 02, 1931 – February 24, 2020

Belated notice with the passing of Western pilot Captain Larry Donald Siddall, age 88.  Captain Siddall joined Western Airlines 02-25-1961 and was based Denver.  Obituary information for Captain Siddall is available online HERE.

ituary  :  Larry Donald SiddallLink to Larry Siddall’s Service Video (Titled “Larry Siddall funeral”): www.laurensumc.org/Sermons-Devotions

BURIAL – Laurens Cemetery, Laurens, IowaMILITARY RITES – Laurens American Legion and V.F.W.      Larry Donald Siddall was born on March 2, 1931, to Donald and Elna (Sexsmith) Siddall of Laurens, Iowa. When attending school in Laurens, Larry became active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). As a high school senior in 1949, he won the FFA public speaking contest at both the state and 13-state regional level before advancing to the national level where he placed second in the nation and received a scholarship. His speech about farm safety was entitled, “A Hook or a Hand”. In that same year, he was awarded the Iowa Farmer Degree. He also served as northwest Iowa district president of FFA and vice-president in the state FFA association. In 1949, Larry won a scholarship and a trip to the 4-H Club Congress in Chicago as Iowa’s 4-H “safety champion”. He also specialized in conservation in 4-H and was chosen as the delegate from Pocahontas County to go to Camp Mitigwa. Larry also won a state 4-H scholarship for Fire Prevention. During his high school senior year, Larry served as President of his local 4-H club, Swan Lake Huskies, and as an officer in the state 4-H association. He continued with campus 4-H at Iowa State University.      In 1948, Larry won the Iowa state championship of the 1st Annual Tractor Rodeo, winning at the Pocahontas County 4-H Fair before competing at the Iowa State Fair where contestants were judged for skill, safety, and speed. The speaker for this event, which was held in conjunction with the National Plowing Contest, was President Harry Truman.      Larry played the clarinet in small and large groups in high school and in the National FFA Band in Kansas City. At Iowa State University, he was a member of the marching band, orchestra, recording band, and concert band, occasionally performing as a concert soloist. Later in life, he enjoyed playing the clarinet with the Hayseed Orchestra of which his father Donald Siddall and grandfather Ira Siddall were the originating members.      He graduated from Iowa State University in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. While at Iowa State, Larry participated in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and the Arnold Air Society. In the fall of 1953, he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and orders for active duty with the United States Air Force. He reported for primary pilot training and received his wings as an Air Force Pilot at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in the fall of 1954.      During the Korean Conflict, Larry’s unit was called MATS (Military Air Transport Service) located at Travis Air Force Base north of San Francisco, California. He flew troops, passengers, and cargo to Japan, Formosa, and many islands in the Pacific. His plane was a C-124 Globemaster which preceded modern jet aircraft      Upon completion of active duty as a 1st Lieutenant on December 27, 1956, Larry flew for the Air Force Reserve at March Air Force Base while also employed as a commercial pilot until his honorable discharge as a Captain in the USAF on March 19, 1969. Larry was a pilot and a Captain for Western Airlines, which later became Delta Airlines      Upon retirement as a pilot, Larry lived part-time in both Laurens, Iowa, and in San Diego, California. He continued to maintain the farmstead and to look after the family farm business. Beginning in 2013, he enjoyed a retirement community, ‘Brookdale Senior Living’, in San Marcos, California, until his death on February 24, 2020. He was a lifelong member of the Laurens United Methodist Church.  Larry Donald Siddall is survived by his brother Robert, and nieces Patricia Pinter and Linda Anderson. He was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Elna Siddall, stepmother Doris Siddall, and sister Donna Anderson.