Earl Thomas Largent

Monday, May 3, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia, Missouri.
Officiating will be: Rev. Jerry Gamm.
Music provided by: selected favorite songs.
Interment will be in the Vandalia Cemetery with full military honors.
Pallbearers: Bob Wise, Sam Fitzpatrick, Larry Anderson, Mike Martin, Phillip Ogden and Gary Cole. Honorary pallbearers: Larry Eskew, Gary Eskew, Eric Eskew, Rick Hawkinson, Darren Hawkinson, Dennis Largent, Clay Largent, Clint Largent, Mark Morris, Steven Morris, Michael Morris, John Largent, Joe Largent, Jamie Largent, David Howdeshell and Bruce Barnes.

Earl Thomas Largent passed away at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2010 at the Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. He had been a Vandalia area resident since 1959 after moving here from Hatton. Earl had attended school in the Hatton and Auxvasse area before farming. He served his country in the U. S. Army from May 23, 1966 until May 5, 1967 when his gunship, a UH-10 was shot down by enemy fire in Vietnam. Earl was severely wounded and flown to Walter Reed Medical Center where he spent three months then was sent to the VA Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He spent 30 days there before getting to come home and receiving a medical discharge. He received the Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defense Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism. Earl both farmed and worked as a farmhand for many years in the area. He had also worked for a short time at A P Green Refractories in Mexico, Missouri. Earl was a 42 year member of Vandalia VFW Post 2173, lifetime member of the DAV and a member of the American Legion Post 1000 in Jefferson City. He enjoyed playing cards, woodworking, farming and his grandchildren.

Born: July 6, 1942 in Bachelor, Missouri the son of Otis Sherwood and Mable (Campbell) Largent.

Married: Beverly Ann Barnes on August 5, 1960 in Vandalia, Missouri; she survives at the home.

Survivors include: wife, Beverly of rural Vandalia; one daughter: Tara L. and husband Brent Lewis, three beautiful granddaughters, Taylor Michelle, Gracey Katherine and Kelley LeeAnn all of rural Curryville, Missouri; three brothers: Otis Largent and Charles and wife Barbara Largent all of Independence, Missouri and Gene and wife Cathy Largent of Vandalia; four sisters: Virginia and husband Jim Howdeshell of rural Vandalia; Mary Helen and husband Gene Eskew of Vandalia; Dorothy Vinson of Kingdom City, Missouri and Barbara and husband Marion Hawkinson of Farber, Missouri; one brother-in-law, Buford and wife Wilma Barnes of Vandalia; 31 nieces and nephews; 63 great-nieces and nephews; 17 great-great-nices and nephews.

Preceded in death by: parents; one brother, J. R. Largent in 1976.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the East End Miracle Walkers Relay for Life in care of Waters Funeral Home, P O Box 84 Vandalia, MO 63382-0084.