LAURENCE CHANDLER (Larry) WILD, JR. 56, of Houston died March 15. A native of Houston, Larry graduated from Woodberry Forest High School in Orange, Virginia, and the University of Texas in Austin. Larry was a beloved husband and father. His many interests included books, traveling and history, but most of all Larry was an avid outdoorsman and nature lover. He was an expert boater, whether in canoes, kayaks, or rafts, and loved rivers of all kinds, from flat to whitewater. Over the years he introduced many people to the joys of boating and camping, most especially to his large extended family. Among his many accomplishments was, in 1985, making the first recorded continuous paddle of the Brazos River, with David Ela, traveling 687 miles from Possum Kingdom Reservoir to the Gulf of Mexico in 30 days. Larry was an assistant Scout Master of BSA Troop 599 and had earned the esteemed Wood Badge. His proudest moment in scouting was seeing his son Chandler earn his Eagle Scout Award. Larry was also an active member of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church. He is preceded in death by parents Bud an Mary Lou Smith Wild. Larry is survived by his wife of 21 years, Judy Sublett Wild and children, Chandler, Annie, and Elizabeth, as well as his mother-in-law, Ruth Sublett, cousins, Hunt and Billie Weber of Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, and Mid and John Whedon of Bel Tiburon, California, and many brothers- and sisters-in- law, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, with Dr. Charles Simmons officiating. Memorial gifts may be made to MDUMC (Youth Department) or American Rivers
Published in Houston Chronicle on Mar. 18, 2007