Kenneth Larry Hayward, “Larry”, died peacefully with family on Oct. 11 in Clearwater, Florida at the age of 82.
Larry was born July 25, 1941, in Luckey, Ohio to Kenneth Leroy Hayward and Virginia Mae Phillips.
Larry graduated from Eastwood High School in Pemberville, Ohio in 1959, the school’s first graduating class after consolidating a few years before. Larry was a captain on the Eagles first football team in 1958 as a fullback and linebacker, and also was the Senior Class President in 1959.
Larry then married Sara Ann Wallace, a 1960 graduate of Eastwood High School, on Aug. 12, 1962, at First Presbyterian Church in Scotch Ridge, Ohio, and the two were married for 61 years.
Larry worked at various occupations during his life, including Brush Beryllium, Ernsthausen Painting, Ed Schmidt’s Pontiac dealership as a mechanic, Hill College as a custodian and Hill County in Hillsboro, Texas as a maintenance man. Larry and Ann later moved to Palm Harbor, Florida after retirement, and were members of Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor.
During his time working at Hill College, Larry earned an Associate’s Degree, and while working for Hill County worked maintenance on a remodeled Hill County Courthouse until his retirement in 2005.
Larry could fix and build nearly anything, including clocks, children’s toys, bookshelves, furniture and other prized family heirlooms.
A fan of multiple sports teams in Detroit, Larry loved the Lions, Tigers and Red Wings as he watched and listened to his heroes such as Doak Walker, Gordie Howe and Al Kaline thrill fans with their play.
He had a special love for baseball and his beloved Tigers, and even prior to his death Larry could be seen watching a baseball game and following his beloved Tigers.
Larry was also an avid auto racing fan, which included attending multiple dirt track races with his two sons across the country, and also achieved a life-long dream of attending the Indy 500.
Larry is survived by his wife, (Sara) Ann Hayward, children Rob Hayward of Findlay, Ohio; Sue Ann (Hayward) Daniels and Jim Daniels of Clearwater, Florida; and Len and Kristie (Davis) Hayward of Portland, Texas, along with four grandchildren (Logan, Robbie, Avery and Mackenzie) and one great grandchild (Rio). Plus, numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins. Larry is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth, mother, Virginia, and brother, Ron Hayward.
The family is planning a private service.
