Last fall a group of quilters in Blue Rapids began making quilts for veterans. Kathy Crawford is one of those quilters and she had an extra quilt on hand, which she decided to give to Larry Springer. For those that do not know Larry Springer, he has been one of the work-horses with the Central Branch Railroad. In the past year he has had some health issues that resulted in him moving to Cambridge Place Nursing Home in Marysville.
Larry Springer was born and raised in the Waterville area. Larry and his twin sister Lola were the youngest of 8 siblings. He served in the U.S. Army as a Specialist 4th Class (1956-1958). Larry had five brothers, Gail, Lyle (Max), Keith, Neil, and Lee that had also served in the Army. He also had an older sister Elaine.
Larry became a master electrician in charge of two power plants in Colorado and returned to Waterville after retiring. He had attended the same country school as Kenny Winkenwader, another of the CBRR workhorses, and became interested in the MCRHS through conversations with Kenny.
The Springer Post No. 332 of the American Legion is named after Corporal Simon “Bob” Springer, 356th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division. Simon was the first Waterville boy to lose his life in WWI. Simon was a great uncle of Larry Springer.
