Larry D. Olds Sr.

Larry Dean Olds was born in the town of Wilmot, Kansas to Rex Allen Olds and Helen Beatrice (Wilcox) Olds on September 20, 1940.  

Larry attended his entire school years in Winfield. At the age of 14, he began working his first job in the grocery industry as a carryout for Krogers.  He continued through high school cleaning up, carrying out customer purchases, and assisting in the meat market.  

After graduation Larry began working for Safeway.  That summer he married Shirley June Hessee on August 5, 1958 and together they moved following transfers to Newton, Anthony, and Winfield, before a final move back to Anthony.  As he worked his way up, Larry and Shirley added two sons to their family, Larry Dean Olds Jr. and Kent Charles Olds.  

The Safeway store in Anthony had been purchased by an individual and changed to an IGA store and was then up for sale.  At the “old” experienced age of 26, Larry bought the Anthony IGA in 1966.  It was a family operation as Larry was assisted by his wife, Shirley and young sons, Larry Jr. and Kent as they grew into the business.  With Larry’s never-ending work schedule, he survived lean times, a devastating fire, decreasing population, and the lure of large city stores.  With an expanding family, Larry bought the IGA store in Harper in 1981 and daily traveled between Anthony and Harper to manage both businesses.  A significant change came when Larry had to make a decision to leave the IGA affiliation and therefore, had to change the store name from “Larry’s IGA” to “Larry’s Hometown Market” – an event many long-time loyal customers have ignored and continued to refer to the business as “Larry’s IGA!”  The Harper store closed in the 1990’s.  Larry served the community with a lifetime of knowledge of the grocery business and a non-stop work ethic of satisfaction for the food shopper.  Larry added up 71 years in grocery work and 60 years as an Anthony businessman!  The store closed in May 2025, as Larry retired.  Somehow in those years of 16-hour workdays, Larry added community service to his duties.  Serving in Jaycees, including the position of President, the Anthony Chamber of Commerce, including the position of President, and the Anthony Hospital Board.  

Larry was baptized at the Winfield Christian Church at the age of 10.  After retirement, Larry had a great desire to attend church and enjoyed worshipping at the Harper Harvest Bible Fellowship and Revolution Fellowship.  His interests included collecting vintage cars, clocks, CB radios, woodworking – making cupboards for his sister-in-law, Sharon, a cradle, children’s tables with chairs and benches, clocks, quilt racks, storage benches, a hall tree, and picture frames. Mowing and shoveling snow with his mower were his favorite pastimes. 

Larry loved to pour attention onto children and the elderly.  His life was a non-stop, continual round of events and projects, which is why it was a strange sight to see him sitting down and resting in his later years.  

Larry D. Olds succumbed to failing health on Saturday, May 9^th 2026 at 3:18 p.m.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jerry Olds.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; sons and daughters-in-law: Larry Dean Olds Jr. and Debra and Kent Olds and Cynthia; 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren:  Curtis Olds and wife, Kathleen, and daughters, Elaina and Adeline, Kandace Hunt and husband, Jay, and sons, Jax and Silas, Kiley Davis (Brad Davis) and children: Asa, Joplynn and Blakely, Jabin Olds and wife, Natalie, and son, Perry, Natalie Schmidt and husband, Mike, and daughters, Fay and Nora, and Meredith Olds; his sister, Sherry Setzkorn and husband, Ron; sister-in-law, Sharon Darnell and husband, Charles; and a host of dearly loved nephews, nieces, and extended family and friends.

Memorial service was held 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 18, 2026 at Revolution Fellowship Church with his sons, Larry Dean Olds Jr. and Kent Olds officiating.  Musical selections included “Still,” “My Heart Will Go On,” and “Amazing Grace.”

Memorials in memory of Larry may be made directly payable to Freedom Gates Boys Ranch or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.