Larry Alldredge

In the quiet corners of Crossville, Illinois, there echoes a melody, a verse, the soft rustling of pages turning. It is the legacy of a man, my father, Larry E. B. Alldredge, who found his peace in the realms of poetry and prose. Born on the 5th of March, 1949, in Grayville, Illinois, Larry was a man of many talents, a wellspring of knowledge, both common and scientific. His spirit, forever free and creative, found joy in the exploration and geological study of the American West, and in the rhythm and rhyme of poet T. S. Elliot and Edward Abbey. His curiosity was as vast as the landscapes he admired, his wit as sharp and weathered as the rocks he studied.

Larry's life was a poem, each verse more spirited than the last. His journey led him to serve bravely in the United States Army in Vietnam in which he earned a Vietnam Service Medal, two Bronze Stars, and a Parachutist Badge, to delve into the heart of the earth as a water quality specialist for the oil industry, to find peace in the tranquility of his garden, and the rush of wind against his face as he biked through life's trails. A voracious reader who infused talent and wit into everything he touched, his spirit can be felt in the leaves in his beloved garden, in the pages of the hundreds of books he left behind, and in the words of the poets he loved.

Larry is survived by his daughter, Heather (William) Alvis; grandchildren, Westley and William C. Alvis; siblings, Rose, Allen, Derris and Cindy. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Nellie Alldredge (Ridens); siblings, Jack, Mary, Marilyn, Tom, Linda, Mike and Phyllis.

As we mourn Larry's passing, we also celebrate the extraordinary life he lived. Please join us in remembering him by sharing your photos, stories, and memories on his memorial page. His story isn't over; it lives on in each of us, in every life he touched, and every heart he warmed with his wit, wisdom, and spirit.

A private inurnment will be held at a later date. Roberts and Cook Funeral Service has been entrusted with arrangements.