A reception celebrating the life of Larry Gene Buchwald will be held at the Lawton Country Club on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

Larry Gene Buchwald, age 82, died on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. He was born October 23, 1941 in Lawton to William and Evelyn (Block) Buchwald. Raised on a farm near Faxon, Larry was shaped by the rewards and trials of farming in southwest Oklahoma and had memorable childhood experiences such as traveling to his one-room school house by horse and witnessing the expansion of electrical services to his childhood home. Larry attended Chattanooga High School and later gained degrees in animal science and land management at Cameron University and Oklahoma State University. He married Mary Middleton on April 14, 1973 in Corsicana, TX after which the couple moved to Lawton where they raised their three children, Adam, Sarah and Andrew.

Larry was a devoted husband and father whose family was his first priority. He believed that through education and hard work his children could meet whatever goals they set for themselves, and even when those goals might have differed from his own, he was his children's most steadfast supporter.

In the same way, Larry was deeply committed to the city of Lawton and to Comanche County. He taught science at Eisenhower High School for over 20 years while tirelessly continuing to farm and ranch. He later served as County Commissioner for Comanche County's Western District from 1998 to 2002 and took great pleasure in supporting the rural community that he so greatly valued. Larry also participated in numerous civic organizations as a member of the Lawton Kiwanis Club, the Salvation Army, Pro Musica and as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club. He was a member of NewHaven Church.

Beyond his roles as a father, husband, and citizen, Larry was closely identified by those who knew him well as a naturalist with a deep knowledge of the native flora and fauna of southwest Oklahoma. This knowledge stemmed from his earliest life experiences on the farm and his sharing of his love and understanding of the natural world enriched the lives of many. One of the greatest gifts he gave his children and wife was a deep appreciation of the region's expansive fields and colorful skies. In his free time, Larry was a skilled hunter and fisherman, and he enjoyed these activities with his sons and friends in Alaska, Canada, south Texas, and many places in between. With Mary, Larry travelled frequently both in the United States and in Europe, but it was in the fields of southwest Oklahoma that he was most at home.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife Mary, his parents, and his brother William. He is survived by his children: W. Adam Buchwald (Amber Kendall) of Lawton; Sarah Buchwald Flockermann (Philipp) of Zurich, Switzerland, and Andrew Buchwald (Mariah) of Bend, Oregon; three grandchildren: Inès and Celine Flockermann and Forrest Buchwald; sister Jane Kerr (Frank) of Flower Mound, Texas; and brothers-in-law Scott (Susan) Middleton of Tyler, Texas and Bill (Beverly) Middleton of Dallas, Texas.

The family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to NewHaven Church, P.O. Box 185, Lawton, OK 73502 or to Lawton ProMusica, PO Box 2501, Lawton, OK 73502 in honor of Larry.